When I was preparing to welcome my first child into the world, I had a distinct, utopian vision of what motherhood was going to be like.
The reality of motherhood didn't match it in the least.
The first six months of motherhood were actually some of the hardest days of my life. I loved my baby, of course, but I also experienced overwhelming feelings of failure and guilt.
Today, I'd like to tell you about what brought this on, and what I did (and what you can do, if you're feeling the same way!) to change it.
When the time comes to return to work after the birth of a child, how many women can say that they feel genuinely ready?
Not just physically, although that's certainly an important factor, but emotionally prepared and comfortable to leave their newborn for long stretches during the day with someone else.
For those of us who have been through the process, we know how stressful and emotionally taxing it can be.
Enter Lauren Brody Smith, author of The Fifth Trimester - The Working Mom’s Guide To Style, Sanity & Big Success After Baby.
In today's episode, I'm speaking with Lauren in depth about her strategies for returning to your job after maternity leave, how to physically and mentally prepare yourself in the days before going back, and the importance of openness, honesty and support in the workplace.
So you've finally got your little one sleeping soundly through the night. You've established a great bedtime routine, you're sticking to it every night, and baby's learned to settle independently when she wakes up in the night.
But now it's vacation time, so how are you going to adhere to your schedule when everything's thrown into upheaval?
Well, the short answer is, you're not. You're going to have to deal with the change in surroundings and schedule as best you can. So in today's episode, I've got some tips for minimizing the impact that travel will have on their sleep, and how to get them back on track as soon as you get home.