Parenting Myths

As a mother, I read and hear a lot of things about parenthood. Some of these things have been life-changing for me, and some of these things are just outright lies! Today's post examines some little tidbits I've picked up along the way to see if they are fact or fiction.

1. It gets easier! I can't tell you how many people have told me this. I'm not sure what "it" is supposed to refer to....parenthood? Well let me tell you right now, that is not true. If any anything, it gets harder. Perhaps a better thing to tell a struggling new mother is, "it gets different." It seems we are constantly leaving one phase of struggles behind only to encounter a new phase. I suspect this is how parenthood will always be. Myth!
2. Sleep training is really hard for the first few days but by the end of the week your baby will go to sleep without a peep? Sounds too good to be true, right? Exactly! Why did I ever believe this could possibly be true? I don't know if my babies just have super stamina, but when it's time to go to bed, they sure know how to raise a ruckus. I have read so many books and websites on the different methods of sleep training, and I'm prepared to go on record that there is no quick fix, foolproof solution. Some nights my babies will fall asleep within a couple minutes, and other nights it seriously becomes an all night marathon of sleeplessness for the entire household. I've been at this for much longer than a week, and I definitely hear more than a peep at bedtime. Myth!
3. Twins will sleep right through each others cries. There was a time that I believed this: of course that was a time long ago when my girls could have slept through just about anything. And then one day, they were no longer newborns and were much more aware of the world around them, including and especially much more aware that there is another baby in the house. One day Lydia cried and Eden decide she'd like to make it a duet, and then I came to know the truth: twins will hear each other's cries and join right in. To be fair, there are times they seem to ignore each other and sleep right through the other one's sob fest, but often it is a chorus of tandem tears around here. Myth!
4. You can't get pregnant while you're breastfeeding. I'm sure everyone's hearts just skipped a beat, but I am not making an announcement. This is just something I've heard repeatedly. But have any of you watched 19 Kids and Counting? How many of those babies were conceived while Michelle Duggar was nursing? Just saying. I think it's safe to label this one a Myth!
5. Life as you know it is over once you become a parent. Things change the day you bring another human being into this world. Your perspective is broadened and you realize some things in life just aren't that important compared to the tiny bundle in your arms. You realize your life was so incomplete before you were a parent, and you would do anything for your children because you love them more than you ever thought you could. Yes, my selfish life is over and life as a parent is better than I could have imagined. Fact!