My son just hit 1.5 years old on Christmas (talk about nailing the half-birthday game), so I figured it’s time to share some of the lessons I’ve learned in this wild ride called motherhood. If this helps another parent, fantastic! If not, at least you’ll walk away thinking, “Well, at least I’m not that mom that drove through her own garage.”
- The Newborn Phase is a Blink-and-You’ll-Miss-It Moment. Everyone warns you, “They grow up fast,” and let me tell you—those people are grossly understating it. My son started at a solid 4 pounds and is now a almost-fully formed toddler with a strong personality on what he does and doesn’t want to do. I regret not slowing down more in those early months, but hindsight is 20/20… and apparently, so is parenting regret.
- Make people come to you. Feeling overwhelmed by the thought of leaving the house with a tiny human in tow? Same. Pro tip: don’t. If someone truly wants to see your baby, they’ll show up. Set boundaries, stay comfy, and let them come bearing casseroles.
- Don’t drive when you’re tired. Learn from my $4,200 mistake. A couple of months postpartum, I was so exhausted I backed into my closed garage door because I thought it was open. (Spoiler: it wasn’t.) Lesson learned? Tired parents shouldn’t drive. And here’s a bonus hack: categorize tasks into “wants” and “needs.” Grocery shopping = need. Reorganizing the linen closet because you watched a Marie Kondo reel? Hard pass.
- Stop Overloading the Wagon. Before my son, I was working full-time and teaching on the side. Naturally, I thought teaching during maternity leave was no big deal. Spoiler alert: it was a big deal—specifically, to my sanity. Within weeks, I’d backed into the garage, caused a house leak (don’t ask), and was teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Turns out, keeping a baby alive and your house intact is the real MVP move.
- Build your village early. I didn’t know how great my neighborhood was until I had my son. My neighbor, who has a kid the same age as mine, has become a lifesaver—and a close friend. She’s watched my son in last-minute childcare crises when I had meetings I couldn’t reschedule. Trust me, having “your people” ready to step in at a moment’s notice is the ultimate life hack. Get them around your baby early so it feels normal when you need the help.
- Invest in whatever is going to help your sanity. Self-care isn’t selfish; it’s survival. For me, that’s beenmonthly manicures (a post-baby splurge) and massages for my still-recovering body. And then there are my noise-canceling sleep earbuds—an MVP gift from my husband that blocks out everything, including my son’s cries (when Dad’s on duty) and my husband’s snoring. They’re a bit pricey at $300, but if you’re on a budget, there are solid options under $40 on Amazon, like these sleeping earbuds or this headphone sleep mask. Whatever it is, find your sanity-saver and don’t skimp.
Parenting is wild, unpredictable, and full of moments that make you question if you’ve got it together (spoiler: no one does). But here’s the secret—they survive, you survive, and one day, you’ll laugh about backing into your garage door. Maybe.
What would you add to the list?