When to Take it and When to go to Bat

Becoming a parent I expected a lot of things. I expected to fall madly in love with a human that I co-created. I expected there to be sleepless nights. I expected there to be a lot of positive memories made with my new family dynamic. What I didn't expect was all the opinions, judgements, and snide comments. Some of these, unfortunately, are made intentionally, but many are made unintentionally. What's even more unfortunate is that a lot of these comments and opinions are made by the people closest to us. It starts from the beginning...

Are you going to find out the gender?
Are you going to have a natural birth?
What are you going to name your baby?
Are you going back to work after the baby is born?
Are you planning to breastfeed?
Does your baby sleep?

No matter what your answer is, you are being judged. Becoming a parent awakens an inner strength you didn't know existed. Just like anything, this strength is flawed and there are tears and holes where some of these comments and judgments seep through and get to you. How do you know which comments to let slide and which ones to stand up for? This will differ for each parent depending on your core values, priorities, and yes, the amount of sleep you were lucky enough to endure the night before. For me, it's hard not to take each comment to heart. I mean, we are talking about the health and wellbeing of your child; the same child you would risk your life for without thinking twice. I think this is something that every parent struggles with in their own way and I don't know all the answers, but it's something that should be acknowledged. My advise is to listen to your gut and before responding, take a deep breath. There are millions of parents out there, but no one is in your exact shoes. Take pride in your choices as a parent and know you are making the best decisions for you and your family.


Meg