Second Time Around- Motherhood in the Time of Covid

     A couple years back I wrote a post about some sites new mothers would find helpful on their journey into motherhood. I felt at the time I needed to write that article because as a new mother myself I was totally lost when I had my 1st child. Yes, my mother was there to give me guidance and advice. My grandmother was also there to help me, but sometimes even with all that help, it was a lot. They had their own way of doing things and coming from the old school the way I wanted to do things and the way they raised me were totally different. But don't knock age and experience. If you have that help around you take it because you will most definitely need it to keep your sanity. Yes, you might butt heads on topics and things to do for your child, but you will also learn a lot and those lessons come in handy when you decide to have another child.

    

    I like many others have one of those new baby types. You know the covid baby. In 2020 I had a beautiful little girl who came into the world screaming. Mind you I was totally not ready for her yet, but she had her own plans and so did my blood pressure which forced my doctor's hand and she came earlier than planned. Spending a whole month in the hospital, while I got my house in order and coming to terms that her being here early wasn't my fault. My body just couldn't handle being pregnant, which was the same thing as my first. After finally coming home all those lessons I had learned from my mother and grandmother all came back to me, well some of them.

 
    Since she was so small it felt as if I would break her each and every time I picked her up, but I wanted to hold her and make her know that I was there and that she was finally home with her family. I tried to remember everything that my mom had told me when I was raising my now eleven-year-old son, but memory fails me. I had my daughter at thirty-nine years old and happily, my mother was still living with me and my family so there was a helping hand that was gr/.eatly appreciated. Everything that I had forgotten she remembered and gave her advice once again willingly, even though sometimes I thought I could do without it. But, trust and believe I wanted that advice and totally needed it. 

    COVID!!! Was around and absolutely no one was allowed in my house that didn't live there. Every little sneeze, cough, or otherwise was under my watchful eyes. The moment she had any signs of being sick it was total and absolute craziness in my book. I made sure that my son always washed his hands before he touched her and sanitized everything. Happily, the covid shot came along and I took it. I know, I know, but it was my personal choice. Another way I felt I was keeping my baby girl safe and the rest of my family also. Happily, 2 years have gone by and my little girl I not so little anymore. Already on the verge of going to school COVID is still a worry for me, but I feel that she will be safe as long as other parents do their part. (Yes people do send their sick kids to school, I've seen it). But that is my adventure on my second journey. As she grows there will be many things to worry about, but many more things to be amazed by.

Just like my mother the sites that I had recommended so long ago were also there for me too. So here they are again to help you along your way.

    The first website that I suggested for expecting or new mothers to get familiar with was BabyCenter.com. This website helped me out a lot when I was pregnant with my children. Laced with information about pregnancy from start to finish, this site goes on the whole journey of your pregnancy with you. When you sign up you are sent information about each stage of your pregnancy. They inform you of what to expect as each month goes by, the changes your body will go through and they even show you illustrations of how your unborn baby looks while in the womb. This site is also great after the birth of your child. Not only does it tracks your child's progression, but you also have an accurate timeline of your child's age. You can also research all kinds of information on the site and read answers posted by doctors and also other mothers.

    The other website was www.Thebump.com, like Baby Center, this website offers you a host of information on what to expect when you are pregnant and also what to expect when you're a new mother. Both of the sites are very similar and come with a lot of tools to help you along your pregnancy and to also answer those questions you've been thinking about. The bump also offers you a host of websites where you can do your shopping for your little one and much more.