Over the past few weeks, months and even years I’ve purchased so many books, and read so many article you would think I’m some sort of parenting expert. The truth is, no one is. Not even the Super Nanny Jo Frost (which BTW I heard they’re bringing to Lifetime in 2020! SCORE!). There’s no cookie cutter answer that works for everyone.
I’ve heard so many things, including my own Dr. telling me I should rest and prop my feet up but in the same breath told me to hit the gym. Terribly confusing.
Hearing things from one extreme to the next can be very overwhelming. One Mom told me how wonderful and surprisingly NOT painful a completely natural, non medicate birth and labor process was. Another Mom told me if I didn’t get an epidural I was out of my mind.
One of my most favorites was a woman looking complete horror at my tiny, half cup of coffee. “Is that full…strength….coffee?” she gasped. “Yes?” I replied. “What does your obstetrician have to say about that?! I was NEVER allowed to drink coffee when I was pregnant”. Granted the last time this women was probably pregnant was in 1970’s, back when you could ride on your father’s lap while he was driving and you could smoke in every restaurant as no one ever heard of 2nd hand smoke then.
Heaven forbid I have coffee.
But the greatest piece of advice came from from 2 sources. The 1st, is my college roommate who has toddler herself, I’m referred to as ‘Aunt Amanda’ and I text or call her nearly every day lately. She is grounded and always offers her advice as this: ‘Amanda, here’s what I did (enter advice here)…but that’s just me, take it with a grain of salt anyone’s advice, no one can tell YOU what’s right for YOU.” Love that lady.
The 2nd source was a total stranger. Your basic small talk, ‘Hi, how are ya…’ etc followed by ‘when are you due?….ya know the best piece of advice I ever got? Don’t take anyone’s advice!”
Great words of wisdom. Have advice? GREAT! Keep it coming! But that ergonomic whatcha-ma-call-it that has great reviews from some parenting website may not be for me. So I’m going to continue drinking my coffee and reading my parenting books and leave you with the words of Billy Joel:
“…Don’t try to save me….You may be wrong for all I know…But you may be right”