You jumped headfirst into motherhood with a preconceived idea of the kind of mom you were going to be. Your pregnancy gave you time to think it over, to imagine all sorts of scenarios with your future little one. So even before your brand-new baby had arrived in your life, you could already predict how the next 18 years were going to play out.
You were going to be an organized mom. There was no way your tidy little haven was going to suffer because of motherhood. After all, you’d be able to tackle household chores during the many naps and once the little one was in bed at night. You know, babies go to bed early. Easy.
You were going to be a stimulating and educational mom. You imagined a whole array of games, activities, crafts, and exercises to make your baby a developmental champion. You were going to be so much fun that your little one would drink straight from the fountain of knowledge without even realizing it.
You were going to be an amazing cook. You weren’t going to have to deal with any picky eating. You found tons of great ideas on Pinterest for fun ways to present kids’ snacks. With that, you’re sure he’ll never turn his nose up at his vegetables.
You were going to be in complete control. Always, all the time. There was no way you’d ever lose control. You’ve always known how to stay calm—why would that change? Plus, you’ve read so much about the terrible twos, the fucking fours, and even the teenage crisis. Not to mention all the parenting theories you’ve memorized. One thing’s for sure: you were going to handle your little one’s tantrums and arrogance with flying colors!
Okay, this is where I’m going to burst your bubble. It’s not going to happen. Well, not all of that—it’s pretty much impossible. I’ll tell you what’s really going to happen.
Chances are, Mrs. Blancheville will take a break one evening when you’re exhausted from handling 372 monumental crises—or just because work and the daily routine with the kids have worn you out. You’ll choose to crash in front of your favorite show or just go to bed. Do it! After all, your housework will still be there waiting for you—don’t even worry about it!
It’s also possible that some days, you just don’t feel like playing. You might decide that today, well, we’re just going to hang out as a family, watch movies, and relax—period. And you know what? That’s perfect. Because sometimes our little ones just need to do nothing, rest a bit, without having the letters of the alphabet and the numbers from 1 to 10 hammered into their heads in three different languages.
And sorry to break it to you, but yes, your kids are going to throw tantrums at the dinner table. The energy you put into preparing a meal is rarely proportional to the appreciation you get from your little angels. Basically, don’t feel bad about making them Kraft Dinner every now and then—it’s probably going to be a huge hit.
And unless you’re a saint, you might very well end up losing your cool, wondering what on earth you did to make your kids have such bad tempers. You’ll see that theories don’t always work like magic, and that what works for one child doesn’t necessarily work for another.
You’ll get to know your child and discover who you are as a mom. You might feel discouraged at times, or disappointed in yourself. But you know what? The only thing that really matters is giving your child love. Take a deep breath, Mom!
Marie-Christine