The First Six Months Of Parenting
Saturday, April 3rd, 2010Who knew that so much could happen in the first six months of being a parent? Every day from that first real smile all the way up to now has been one miracle after another if you really stop to think about it. On the horizon is toddlerhood, and behind you is infanthood. What you have right now is a precious blend of baby and family. Time will not stand still even if you beg and barter, and the six month mark is a milestone worth remembering.
The baby bath has moved from the sink to the tub. You now hear cooing in the Dect baby monitor late at night. You’ve even started to create your own specially prepared foods with the Hamilton Beach food processor your mother gave you. She expected natural foods.
From here and into the future everything will start to become different. The quiet months of adjustment are now melting into months of verbal and physical experimentation, removing the sense of quiet from the household. At this time most parents can’t really see what it’s going to be like to have a toddler in the house while they bask warmly in the current stage of their new baby.
Many parents celebrate the six month mark so that they can get a sense of closure on this very special time. It helps to commemorate it as a beautiful time that is drawing to a close. Six month parties are often held for family and even close friends.
As much as there is joy in this time, it is also advisable to remember that there can be a sense of sadness. Some parents have a hard time letting go of the infancy stage and welcoming the next stage of life. Every family member and close friend has been either positively or negatively affected by the introduction of a new baby.
Some couples find that this is the time that they can come back together. Working and taking on their new parental role can be difficult for some couples, and the end result is a need to spend some uninterrupted time together to come back to each other. Other couples are madly in love and feel closer than ever.
This is the time to look back and make sure the first six months are documented, that you have your initial grounding, and that you feel your footing is strong for the next move forward. Every moment counts in your baby’s life, as in yours.
The first six months are definitely irreplaceable. They are also considered to be the transitional months. Many parents take this milestone to celebrate while also checking in with the world around them. It’s a good time to make sure that family, friends, and those who share your life most intimately are really doing just fine. It’s a check in period that can assure everyone that the safety net of your love is still right there.
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