Being a Mum is seriously one of the single best things I have ever done in my life and continue to do! But lets not pretend people, amongst all those great days with our beautiful kids, the fun activities, the outings, the love and hugs, there are in fact some pretty crappy days.
Some people seem to hide these days, I'm not sure for what benefit, maybe they think no one else has them and they will be looked at weirdly, or maybe they like to keep up a pretty facade. I have never hid the numerous crappy days I've had with P from any of my friends or family.... for the simple fact that if someone finds themselves in my shoes, remembering back to the crappy day I had, might make them feel a little bit ok with it and help them get on with the day!
Like three weeks after I had been home, struggling with breastfeeding, and my panic attacks were creeping back in (another story completely), I had a group of close friends over from work. I didn't hide the fact that I was distraught that my little girl wouldn't eat, or that I in fact may have to turn to bottle feeding (which I was terrified about what others may think). Instead I cried, I sobbed and told them "It's not all roses girls, I'm a true friend, I'll show you the bad days too". And with that came support, support when I did in fact have to put my girl on the bottle (friends who tried so hard and in the end just couldn't continue, friends that persisted and managed to breastfeed for months to come, so many stories of struggle!). And since then, some of the girls that were in my lounge that day, when they had their own babies, did think back to that day and were able to find comfort in it and even have a laugh.
So let's not pretend to others, instead lets ask for help if we need it, share the bad days (as we'll find so many commonalities it'll actually be funny!), take a break when you know you need it, and make light of a bad situation! Many of us appear to our friends and family as Super Mum's, when in fact we all are!! But occasionally our capes need a wash, so lets not hide that fact!
Bx
