Since today is Thursday, I’m linking up to Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop. The prompt I chose today will probably surprise some of you (since it’s been many years since I was a “new mom”).
My topic is: 5.) Advice to new mothers.
I think after our children are grown, we look back and realize we could have done some things differently. But we also realize the things that we did that were good. So here are a few things for you to keep in mind as your little ones grow:
1.) Enjoy every single second of their infancy and childhood. One day, your little one is having his/her very first picture taken….
….and the next day, it’s photos at their high school graduation.
2.) Be patient when your little one can’t sleep at night. This picture was taken at 1:40 AM the morning after Marshall’s first birthday. Earlier in the evening, we had celebrated, and apparently, the excitment was a bit too much. He just would not go to sleep that night. He was playing in front of this sideboard, and before I knew it, had pretty much emptied the contents (wrapping paper and gift boxes). At 1:40 AM. And was pretty proud of himself. My sense of humor was obvious in my caption on the photo.
3.) You will no doubt enter a phase when your child (especially if you have a son) won’t want you to show him any affection in public. Don’t worry: this will soon pass, and your hugs will be as welcome as when he was a toddler.
4.) Never, ever pass up the opportunity to take pictures of your child with his grandparents, or any relative, for that matter.
5.) Be sure, from an early age, that your child feels comfortable talking with you about whatever is going on in his life. This builds a relationship that only grows stronger with the passing of time.
So there you have a little advice for new moms. If you have a little one,be sure to check back with me in a few years to let me know if it helped.
these days of mine 
Dianna,
You are spot-on with each piece of advice. As the mother of an only child – one son – I well remember the affection-free zones I had to respect. Your note on the 1:40 am paper-party- of-one is precious. Glad you had the presence of mind to grab a camera!
What great advice Dianna…..I’ve never been a Mom (unless you count all the cats I’ve had through the years!) but it looks like – and sounds like – you’ve loved every minute of Marshall’s babyhood to adulthood. Puts that 1:40AM PAR-TAY into perspective doesn’t it?! LOL
Pam
Good morning, Dianna. Great advice and I agree 100% with each and every point. I’d like to add that it’s good to let them learn, by example, that we all make mistakes and the best course is to try, try, try again!
1:40 a.m. party = funny!!
MJ
Just shows what a great mom you were/are!! I can only add what Mama told me after my children were grown…”You did the best you could at the time” to remind new mothers that you won’t always be perfect but you did your best!
Love all the pictures and remarks! Since I am on the other side of parenting like you, I can truly identify with everything you have said. What is really encouraging to me is your Mama’s advice to June and June’s advice. Amen!
That 1:40 a.m. picture reminds me so much of my youngest. He’s 8 now and I still have trouble getting him to go to sleep at night and then he doesn’t want to get up in the mornings!
Wonderful advice.
I’m so excited for #3 to kick in around here. My baby still let’s me hug and kiss him at will, but my oldest doesn’t even want to walk right next to me when we go to his school or a game. I will gladly accept public hugs from him again!
great advice dianna….i could seriously write a book now but we always loved them. and yes, sometimes that love had to be from a distance!!
I totally agree with all your advice! The one the really stuck out to me though was to make sure you take pictures of your child with the grandparents….I just lost my father….and I can’t believe that I didn’t have a recent picture of him with any of my kids….I guess I just assumed that I would take one “next time”…..only there wasn’t a next time…..
Great advice…and so gently expressed ~ wonderful!
Love this and I will surely take each of these pieces of advice to heart! I love the pic with the “It must have been the party” caption. He looks like he was ready to party all over again 🙂 I also agree with taking photos with relatives – so needed for looking back one day when they might be gone.
Wonderful advice…and ALL so true! I love the photos-the 1:40 a.m. shot (and caption) is priceless 🙂
so sweet. and dianna, you are one of the prettiest women i ‘know’.
I totally agree with all your fabulous advice. Your love and heart shines through with every word. Your pictures are charming. 🙂
Well … what can I say ?! I was told recently that you needed to stretch out a birthday celebration… I guess I already knew it! Very well written; new Moms listen up!
Loved seeing your photos and the last one is especially good. You’re both so cute! Great advice and I agree with all of it. Especially taking photos of all the family members. I really regret not getting a photo of my mother with my son. She passed away when he was 2 weeks old of a horrid disease, ALS, and she had to have help holding him. I failed to think of getting a photo because it was so emotional knowing time was short for her. Okay, I’m tearing up now even tho it was a long time ago…great post and great advice!
Loved the picture with everything pulled out onto the floor; we have one similar. We also have a picture of Mama, holding our first grandchild. Mama passed away two weeks later.
I’ll send it to my wife! 🙂 Sage advice.
Good advise. Your right take all the pictures you can, They will be treasures.
Excellent advice, Dianna. Love that sideboard you mentioned. 🙂
Hi, Dianna! I’m Jimmy’s wife. 🙂
This reminds me of how our parents always made sure we knew we could talk to them about anything. That was so important to me as I grew up! So far it seems Zach feels free to talk to us about everything…his need for food, diaper changes, sleep, play time…I love listening to him talk to his daddy! He seems to have his dad’s love for telling stories. 🙂
Kris