From Know It All To Know Very Little

Before I became pregnant I thought I knew it all- okay, maybe not all, but I thought I knew a heck of a lot. I've worked with babies for years; I've worked with different families, from different backgrounds, with different parenting styles. I've worked with troubled families and I've worked with thriving families. I studied family dynamics, prenatal/childhood nutrition, and child development in college. I thought I knew a lot.

Before I got pregnant I had an idea of what type of pregnant woman I would be. I had a list of things I would and wouldn't do. I would have the best, most healthy diet I'd ever had in my life because my baby deserved the best nutrition. I wouldn't be worried or anxious because I knew my baby could sense it. I wouldn't drink caffeine. I would continue to exercise. I would have a natural birth. I would resist any type of medicine (even Tylenol) throughout my pregnancy, and my labor and delivery. I knew what I was doing.

And then I got pregnant. I craved chocolate milkshakes; I put chocolate syrup over bananas; I ate fast food; I drank caffeine on accident -darn you Barq's rootbeer for not being caffeine free like every other kind of rootbeer! And Shockers candy with cherry Slurpees was practically my diet for the last three months. I did worry, constantly, about the health and well-being of my baby. Due to a previous miscarriage I was a nervous wreck that something would happen to Pierce too. I did not continue to exercise like I had hoped. I did resist any type of medicine throughout my pregnancy, even Tylenol, but I had a pain reliever during my labor. I did have a natural birth, but only because by the time I gave in and begged for an epidural I was 10 centimeters.

Before I became a mother I thought it knew it all....alright, not all...but a lot. I had read books, and taken college courses; I had gone to classes, read mommy boards, and talked to other moms. I thought I knew what I was getting myself into. I thought I knew what to expect. I was going to breastfeed for the first 12 months. My baby would never taste formula. I wasn't going to use a pacifier or bottle until at least 4 weeks. I would start sleep training at 3 months and it would be smooth sailing because you know, I read books.

And then I became a mother. And my baby boy had different plans than I did. I do breastfeed and my son has never had to have formula, but my once perfect nurser has been fighting me off and on since 2 months. I introduced a pacifier at 2 weeks and never looked back. I tried sleep training at 3 months, and now that he's 4 months we're just now figuring out how he likes to fall asleep at night.

You see, I thought I knew a lot. I had plans and strategies; I've done my homework, But there is no adequate amount of preparation you can do before you become a mom. It's different than you expect and takes you a million directions you never thought you'd go. I was so quick to judge before I became pregnant and before I became a mom, but every day I am reassured that there isn't one way to be a perfect parent, but there are a million different ways to be a great one.