Hello and welcome back to another instalment of The #MotherhoodMondays guest post series! This weekly feature gives mothers a platform to share their incredible journeys of motherhood in all its forms. If you’d like to get involved, don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re always on the lookout for more amazing mamas to guest post for us.
This week's feature highlights the candid Natalie from The Waitress Site, who shares a heartfelt post about not being a natural-born mother and the challenges she faced as a first-time mum. As a mum to one, I can deeply relate to Natalie's story—I remember feeling completely lost, and without the incredible support from family and friends, I don't think I would be the mum I am today. Thank you, Natalie, for sharing your journey with us for #MotherhoodMondays. Take it away Natalie...
Natural Born Mother
So this is a very personal post that has taken some time for me to have the courage to write. I’m not writing it because I want sympathy, I am writing it so other mothers (and also maybe dads) realise that its OK to feel the way I do and that we should help and encourage our fellow parents, rather than put them down.
I fell pregnant with my eldest daughter when I was just 19. I had been with the sperm donor ( I will explain that at a later date) for just over a year, we were both employed full-time and had the complete support of both our families. Throughout my pregnancy I read books, looked at articles on the internet and spoke to friends who had babies. I thought I had everything worked out and that I would be this type of super-mum who could do and handle everything. How very wrong was I!!
I gave birth to my beautiful 5lb 15oz bundle daughter and although when I first held her I knew I loved her I didn’t have this overwhelming feeling that I had heard so many other new mums talk about. It wasn't until she was about 6 months old that I had that feeling and that’s when I was diagnosed with Post Natal Depression. I hadn’t really heard of it and thought I was a horrible person for not having that special bond with my daughter and the doctor that I saw was really shocked that it hadn’t been picked up sooner.
I got the help that I needed or so I thought, it wasn’t until I met my now husband and his family that I realised and felt like I was completely out of my depth being a mum and that I truly had no idea what I was doing. My daughter was 10 months old by now and I was still feeding her jars of food as I was petrified of weaning her and never really thought that it would have been more beneficial for her to be eating home-made meals.
This is where my MIL comes into it all. She took my daughter one day and sat her in the high-chair at their house and placed a home-made meal in front of my daughter. Her exact words to me were ” If you don’t like it then go in the living room” and that’s where I went. I sat in the living room where this amazing woman started weaning my daughter for me, because I had no idea what I was doing. And if I am honest I still don’t now, I often turn to her for help and advice, whether it’s for night-time routines, temper tantrums, behaviour issues or just ideas on what I can do with the children to stop them from making me want to pull my hair out!! Every time I think I have this parenting malarkey down, another thing pops up that's all new, that I have to try and get through.
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About Natalie
I am far from a Natural Born Mother and I don’t think I will ever have the maternal instinct but I try my best to do best by my children and just keep learning on this journey. I have always said I wish there as some sort of instruction manual that you get given when you become pregnant!! I hope this post has helped even one parent to feel like they aren’t alone if they feel like I did and still do on many occasions.
Thank you Natalie for taking part! And you my lovely readers don't forget to check out Natalie's blog on The Waitress Site
What a great series! Very brave of Natalie to share too. I think many of us can relate to what she says. I really didn't have a clue with my first child about weaning. It can be scary and it's then that you need the support of others to lean on and ask for guidance.
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