Dear Exhausted New Mum, You are enough.  Motherhood is the only job in life where you are expected to be an expert even when you have zero experience.  Are you terrified? Don’t be, here are 5 tips I wish I knew earlier in my motherhood journey.

Please share these tips with your mum friends.

1. I don’t have to be perfect.

If only I knew this early enough. I wouldn’t have worried so much, cried so much and look down on myself. Every motherhood journey is unique and there is always something new to learn. Relax mama and don’t be too hard on yourself.

2. I am enough

For everytime I googled or spoke to someone, my anxiety level increased and I kept feeling incompetent.  I struggled with “ordinary” breastfeeding so much I wondered why my body couldn’t do something so natural so easily.  I know better now.  I am enough.

3. It’s okay to ask and accept help

There is nothing wrong with people and loved ones helping out. It doesn’t make you incompetent.  Rather, it helps prevent your burn out and keeps you healthy to be able to focus on the things that really matter- you and your baby.

4. The phases will pass

This would have made my nights easier and more bearable. Colic, circumcision, the sleepless nights, teething and others all seemed like terrible nightmares that would never end. Knowing there was an expiration date might have given me hope to hold unto.

5. External Opinions Don’t Count

Everytime someone said something about how I was parenting, I felt the hurt really deeply because I knew I was doing my best and some more. It took a while to realize my mental health and sanity was more important than what anybody thought. The well-being of my baby should come before anyone else.

6 Hilarious Things About Motherhood (That Nobody Ever Tells You)

If I knew these 5 things earlier on, maybe my journey would have been smoother but I am still grateful for the lessons.

What are the things you wish you knew as a new mum that would have made your journey easier.  Please share with me.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Let’s connect on Instagram @newmumshub