Feeling like everyone and everything wants a piece of you?

Feeling like everyone and everything wants a piece of you? Becoming a parent adds a new meaning to the word time. Often, our expectations of parenting before becoming parents are way off, particularly when there is a lot of noise that is difficult to filter out.

I was part of a panel today with @zoeblaskey and @mrsgifletcher hosted by @wildnutritionltd. We were discussing the journey to motherhood and beyond. One of the key themes was 'matrescence', something that Zoe is passionate about, and in quite simple terms is the process of becoming a mother in a holistic sense.

Birthing a baby is also birthing a new you and whilst life will be forever changed with a new human to care for, it can be difficult to make time for yourself, your needs and wants.

Sometimes, there just aren't enough hours in the day, hands available, mental bandwidth, patience, or emotional energy to deal with things that you potentially may have found easy to do before children.

Sometimes it's hard.

We're told to cut back on workload, say "no" more often, prioritise, organise, check in with your village, get help etc etc. Advice that I give myself sometimes, but is it always as simple as that?

Is being a stay at home parent possible (or wanted) for everyone? Does everybody have a support person/people to turn to? Does everyone have a supportive partner? Does everyone have good mental health? What about those with children who have additional needs? It can all become overwhelming.

If you are a depleted or overwhelmed parent, you're not alone. You're a person, not superhuman. Don't feel guilty about needing time out or wanting to feel like your 'old self'. I can guarantee that despite all the fluff you might see on social media with parents that seemingly have it altogether, there are many more out there that feel just like you.

Did your expectations of parenting become reality?