Q: Baby blues?
Posted
Thursday, March 29, 2007 11:26 PM
Q: My baby is three months old and I’ve got the blues. I’m not
truly depressed, I just feel like I never get to have any fun now that
I’m a mom. How can I cheer up?
A: You’ve hit on one of
those little-discussed secrets: Having a baby can be a bummer. You're
in love with your new child and cherish the time you spend together.
But, you still want time to party with your friends, spend the night
(and next morning) in bed with your partner, hit the gym, read a good
book, and everything else you used to enjoy. And, every waking second
is currently occupied feeding, diapering and soothing baby. Sound about
right? Here's how to start feeling better.
First, try to schedule fun activities you can do with your baby. Sign up for some baby classes (find good ones on lila guide)
where you can bond with other new moms. You may be surprised to find
that socializing is still fun without the Chardonnay. On the weekends,
strap her in the baby carrier and go hiking, check out some art
galleries, or hit the shops. Now that she’s getting older, you’re
moving away from that eat/change/nap rut. As long as you keep moving
and give her new environments to check out, baby should be pretty
content to travel.
Second, get back to having fun without baby. Schedule regular (or at least semi-semi-regular) date nights. If you’re not able to trust a babysitter
just yet, leave the little one with a relative or a good friend- maybe
other new parents who you can barter babysitting duties with? (How
about those ones you met in your baby classes?) If even that's too
much right now, at least leave her with your partner and head out for
dinner and drinks with the girls every now and then. Tip: If you’re
breastfeeding, teach baby to take a bottle
as soon as you can, and give her one somewhat regularly to keep her
accustomed to it. (Baby can start on a bottle as early as two weeks, as
long as she's got the hang of latching onto your breast.) You’ll feel
less constrained once you know your little one won’t starve if you take
your boobs away for a few hours.
Finally, keep in mind that it will get easier. Yes, your years of
partying all night and sleeping all day are probably over.
(Realistically, it's probably time.) But with every month that passes,
motherhood will get more manageable, and you’ll find ways to work that
pre-parenthood fun back into your routine... And just maybe find some
new kinds of fun, too.
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