New and expectant motherhood comes with a lot of interesting and often unexpected changes in life, and the relationships around you. You may find yourself much closer to a friend or relative that you hadn’t spoken with much over the last several years, or you may find that you fall away from the “girls night” crowd as you embrace mothering your baby.

There are always going to be a lot of opinions out there about whether motherhood should, or should not, change your relationships but the reality ladies, is that it will. There’s no way around it, when you become a mother you are changed forever. It’s a fact, it’s a part of life, and it’s an amazing part of the journey. So embrace it! Turn your ear kindly from the friend who may shake her finger at you over it, and just move on in your new self.

The Mom Community

I love when there’s a sense of community among mothers. This can make such an amazing impact on our lives whether that community is online or off, and no matter how big (or small) that community is.

I’m not suggesting you need to join a mom group, nor am I urging you to join an online mom community even, but the impact of having a few other mothers in your life, that you can confide in and talk to, and possibly even get together with (with or without children) occasionally is huge.

Today, I have a word of caution though. There will always be different parenting styles, personalities and opinions no matter how big or small your personal community is. I would like to suggest to you that unless you are asked for it, do not presume to offer up your particular opinion randomly.

The Preconceptions

We all go into motherhood with set opinions, and often we have decided how it will be. When our first child is still very young, most of that is still not all the way out of our systems yet. I am not implying that parenthood will not occasionally go exactly as planned for some mothers, but that is the rare exception indeed.

I say all of this out of my own personal experience, as well as that of many other moms with whom I have had this discussion. I do not say this to discourage or put down new moms, but only to caution you….here’s why… [Read More...]