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Everything gets better with experience, right? Remember the first time you got on a bicycle and tried to take it for a ride? You probably fell or needed training wheels for a while before you could ride it with balance. What about the time your swimming coach threw you in the deeper end of the pool because you were too afraid to swim even after all those classes? Yes, that traumatic experience where you thought you were going to drown, if it wasn’t for that, you would not be the swimmer you are today. All these experiences seem scary when you don’t know what you’re doing. It’s the same with parenting too.
No doubt that each child is different in their way and the same school of parenting cannot be implemented for every kid. But when you have had kids before, it’s a little more soothing to know that you can handle them. You do not panic as much as you do when it’s your first time. After all, you’ve brought a life into this world and they are your responsibility. So it’s natural for new parents to be nervous when raising their first child. But we are here to tell you how to tackle those challenges and ace parenting, even if it’s for the first time:
1. Sharing Responsibilities
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When you’re a new parent, you are suddenly handling a lot of responsibilities. Apart from managing the house and your daily lives, there is an added responsibility. One that requires 24×7 care and cannot be taken lightly. Yes, it’s your newborn baby and it helps to share the load.
Both of you are new to parenting and it is quite natural to feel overwhelmed. But keep in mind that you’re operating on barely enough sleep and so, even the slightest things tend to get on your nerves. You are irritable and end up taking it out on each other. You also tend to think that your partner is not doing enough and can feel like the burden is on you. In such cases, it helps to chalk down duties and make a chore chart so both of you have an idea of what needs to be done and how much your partner is doing. Plus, it helps keep you on track so you don’t forget it.
It is equally important to appreciate the efforts of your partner, big or small. Both of you are new to this and it takes time to adjust. So a little appreciation goes a long way.
2. Taking On New Roles
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Sometimes, mothers tend to feel like their life has drastically changed after becoming a parent. This might be true but what takes a toll on them is the fact that their partners’ lives have not changed much. These emotions perhaps stem from a fear of change and uncertainty.
But what you need to keep in mind is that you and your partner have stepped into a new phase in your life that you are not familiar with. Therefore, it takes time and a whole lot of understanding to make this transition smooth. While you are learning to take care of your newborn baby, your partner might be the one who is working twice as hard to financially support you and the baby. Or it could be the other way around.
Sometimes, you tend to forget but it helps to be understanding of each other. Support and help will make it easier for you to navigate through this new phase of parenthood.
3. Rekindle The Fire
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When you become new parents, your life is consumed by your baby and you tend to forget your relationship with your partner. But it is important to keep the fire burning in your relationship. It might be difficult to find time to spend with your spouse but set aside a couple of times a month to go on dates with your loved one. You could ask your parents, friends, or relatives to babysit so you both can take time off from being parents for a few hours.
It’s important to spend that quality time with your partner and rekindle the romance. Don’t hesitate to get naughty between the sheets when you find the time. Or even better, make the time for it. Because even the relationship with your partner requires nurturing and being a parent must not get in the way of that.
While being a new parent can be quite tricky, being aware of the challenges and facing them head-on will help handle parenthood. Comment below and let us know what problems you encountered as new parents.
