A Whole New World: My Top 5 Tips for New Moms

Puke, pee, poop, nursing, bottles, swaddles, sleep, and lack thereof - our lives are once again inundated with everything "newborn." I've just had my seventh (and final) baby, but I have some friends who have just, or are about to, bring home their very first bundles of joy, and it made me think: what do I know now that I wish I would have known then?

So here are the top 5 bits of advice I have for all the new mamas to be:

1. Who's body is this?!

Despite Hollywood's best attempts to convince you otherwise, your body will probably not "bounce back" right away. We all know one or two women who were able to wear their skinny jeans home from the hospital. That will probably not be you. 

As a matter of fact, if you're anything like me, you will look down at your body post-baby and think, "Oh my gosh! Ya'll missed something in there! I still look pregnant!"

Give yourself and your body time and grace. You've been through A LOT. Your hormonal, after-baby self may be tempted to cry and lament the body you once had, screaming through sobs that you'll never be attractive again. Remember these words: most of this is temporary, but the parts that aren't are totally worth it. 

Kiss the baby, put on some spanx, and keep moving. This too shall pass.

2. "Today, we're soldiers."

In the most recent "Sherlock" episode, Sherlock and Watson get through a terrifying experience together by telling one another: "Today, we're soldiers."

Welcome to the first two weeks of your babies life.

After the first two weeks, it won't be gravy, but you'll start to fall into a groove. You'll have some idea of what you're doing. You'll be able to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

But those first couple weeks? You're sleep-deprived. You're confused. You're learning on the fly. You're in foreign territory. During those two weeks, look at your partner, join hands, and say," Today, we are soldiers." This too shall pass.

3. Put on headphones

Welcome to the world of "Oh my gosh, how can EVERYONE have an opinion on EVERYTHING." Pregnancy may have prepared you for this some, but once your child is born, people become next-level nosy, and everyone and their mama, and their grandmama has something to say about what you should do.

Tune 'em out.

Everyone has their own way, and most of the time, they're super passionate about it: vaccines, diet, sleeping, schooling, and everything else under the sun. And guess what? They want to share with you EVERYTHING they believe, and you'd better agree OR ELSE.

But here's the deal, God gave YOU this baby. Be informed and ask people you trust (who will respect your decisions), but in the end, the way you raise this baby is up to you. Eventually, if you put up healthy boundaries, people will begin to respect them. This too shall pass.

4. They're smarter than you think

Far earlier than you could ever imagine, your precious little baby will lie, manipulate...and call you on your junk. 

What you learn about all the decisions you're making about all the little things (see #3 above), is that they are meaningless in comparison to how you're walking through this life. Your little one will be born with sin of their own, but they're also watching you very closely.

I've known moms who never set bedtimes for their kids and moms who were strict with the sleep training. I've known moms who have never breastfed and moms who breastfed into the toddler years. I've known moms who never gave their kids processed foods and moms whose kids practically lived off mac-n-cheese and Captain Crunch. 

In the end, none of that stuff mattered nearly as much as the example their parents set for them. Be joyful. Be forgiving. Be patient. Be kind. And when you jack that up? (AND YOU WILL) Be humble and ask for forgiveness. This too shall pass.

5. This too shall pass.

Pay attention. This is the most important part. Everything you're dealing with right now? It will be over in the blink of an eye. 

Someone once said, "The days are long, but the years are short." Truer words have never been spoken. Some of those days you experience will be beautiful and life-giving, but some of will rip your heart out of your chest and stomp on it. 

There's a good possibility that you'll find yourself crying on the floor far more than you'd ever imagined. In those moments, remembering how quickly time passes probably won't help you because you won't be able to see the forest for the trees. 

But generally, remember, this too shall pass - the good and the bad, the beautiful and ugly - and it will pass in the blink of an eye. So try your very best not to sweat the small stuff and not to worry about tomorrow because today is a beautiful gift. Do your best to enjoy it. BE PRESENT.

Whether you like it or not, this too shall pass.