Play-Learn-Grow-Repeat

From Monday Mom – Neetika:
I am full-term in my pregnancy. I am not quite at my due date yet. A few months ago, I fully prepared myself for being “over” due, as many first time moms are. Now that I’m here, some medical indications imply that I may go early. The baby is getting big. And my mom went very early both times she was pregnant. So I can’t help but think, “okay, let’s get this show on the road”.

At least that’s what I think sometimes. Other times I’m oddly comforted by the fact that Baby is not here yet, and I likely have a few more days, at least. I have heard from experienced moms that I should appreciate the time that the baby is still in my belly and sleep while I can. (As if sleep is something you can store? I have never understood that advice!)

It’s not that I’m nervous about all the hard work and sleeplessness it will take to care for the newborn, though I’m sure it’s no joke. It has more to do with the fact that everything is changing, and I wonder if I’m prepared. I am battling with several uncertainties. Not technically being a mother yet has not stopped me from experiencing mom guilt.

At the moment, our dog, Saint, is our only baby. Soon he won’t be. I worry all the time about how that will go. Will Baby be safe? Will Saint feel ignored? Sometimes I put those baby shows on the television so he can hear a baby cry: he kind of looks up, startled for a moment, annoyed, and goes right back to sleep. This should be interesting.

I also think a lot about the care I have provided my baby with during pregnancy. Wasn’t I supposed to play classical music every night? What about that blanket I meant to knit? What happened to the exercise regimen I was so devoted to six months ago? And I still haven’t finished reading Breastfeeding Made Simple! (How did any mother in the world manage to accomplish breastfeeding before the publication of that book? I just don’t know!) Have I already screwed this up?

Hopefully soon I will be re-reading this post and laughing at my pre-delivery worries. And maybe one day, my first-born will read this and laugh at all of the silly things that were going through mom’s head. By then, he or she will likely know how crazy I am, and know that it is all out of love.

From Monday Mom – Neetika:
Hey there GUL blog readers! I am happy to introduce myself to you as the new Monday Mom. My name is Neetika. I am 30 years old and I live in the New York City area. I have been married to a great guy named Joe for almost three years. We are expecting our first child in the coming weeks.

I have always wanted to be a mom, more than anything else. Growing up, I worked hard in school, college and beyond, thinking carefully about my career ambitions at each step. But I knew that it would all take a back seat as soon as I had a little one. Which is not to say that I have no professional goals. Participating in this blog is a big part of my staying active as a writer, which is one of my passions. The fact that I can write about such an important facet of my life, and share those experiences with all of you, makes this that much sweeter. I hope you will enjoy the process as much as I do.

So, I know that I want to be parent. Just one small detail I need to figure out—how exactly do I do that? I have two concerns regarding childcare. First, there’s the ordeal of taking care of a new baby, as in meeting his or her basic needs. But I have a plan to address that, and let’s just say it involves someone named “Grandma” in a major way.

I also consider it my responsibility to raise a child who is well adjusted, curious, and thoughtful. When my children are in school, I intend to be an involved parent. However, children don’t go straight from the hospital to the classroom, do they? The several years spent at home as an infant and toddler are among the most formative. So how do I make the most of them?

I don’t actually have the answer to that— which is why I am so pleased to be involved with the GrowUpLearning community. Engaging your child in learning activities that are part of your daily routine is not only convenient, it makes sense. How better to teach your child new skills than through real-life applications? This approach makes me feel like even the most tedious tasks I will perform as a busy mom are for a truly greater purpose. It provides the perspective I want and the plan that I need to be the mother my young child deserves. I look forward to sharing those adventures with all of you.