Mama-Come-Lately

When you have a baby, or are pregnant, or talking about having a baby or trying to get pregnant, people will give you advice. It just happens. Some is awful, and some is awesome, and generally, it’s best to just smile and nod. (If you are about to have a baby or thinking about getting knocked up, I advise that you start practicing the smile-and-nod now.)

Here’s some of the best advice I’ve received so far:

– Trust your instincts.
– Go with the flow.
– Get the bottle warmer.
– If he needs you, you will hear him.
– Don’t read too many books.
– Enjoy.

Here’s what I would tell someone who was about to become a parent (if in fact I told them anything at all — I am The Quiet One):

– Trust your instincts.
– Much of early parenting is trial and error. Don’t get hung up on the errors.
– Seriously? Do not get the wipe warmer.
– Everything is temporary.
– Try to remember that your partner is probably just as freaked out as you are.
– Everything is washable. If it’s not, put it away.
– Turn the monitor volume to the lowest setting at night.
– You might be scared by how much you love your baby. It’s okay. That’s just biology at work.
– Enjoy. And if you can’t, please talk to someone about that.

And hey, if I ever say some of this to you and you give me the old smile-and-nod, I’ll understand.