Aw! You just had your first baby and have never felt so much unconditional love, joy, warmth, excitement…uncertainty, exhaustion, frustration, and nervousness!
The addition of a baby changes things in ways that you may never have anticipated. You are now responsible for another person, and trying to meet all their needs on top of our own is a big job. You may even be “seasoned” parents and adding more children to your family is still a challenging transition.
According to societal standards, you are supposed to be nothing but grateful about being a parent, and you are supposed to enjoy every single moment. But the truth is, parenting is hard. Especially when you have never done it before. You are constantly learning as you go. This learning curve feels like chaos sometimes, which likely makes it feel as though you have no control over your own life.
Parenting takes a toll on our physical and emotional well-being. It can be overwhelming as we try to navigate this new territory and we need a little help. You might find it difficult to:
- Manage new responsibilities
- Find out who you are with this newly added role
- Nurture both baby and your relationship with your partner
- Balance work and parenthood
- Set boundaries with family and friends
- Engage in self-care
When you come to Bricolage Wellness and work with our compassionate and caring clinicians, you will:
- Be given the space to talk openly without judgment.
- Be encouraged to share your experiences and we will work together and
- Come up with a plan that fits your needs, your beliefs, and your life.
- Figure out how to manage stress using what works for you.
- Practice self-care using relaxation techniques, mindfulness, and other mind-body experiences.
- Learn that much of what you are feeling, thinking, or concerned about is completely normal, and that you can do this.
Some of the models we use at Bricolage to best support parents, includes Gottman’s Bringing Baby Home & The Becoming Us Model.
Becoming new parents may be overwhelming, but by taking it one day at a time and using some tools to help you manage baby and other responsibilities, you will gain confidence in yourself and your ability to be a parent. And yes, you are your partner can still get along during the process!
Ready to gain some support and guidance through this huge life transition? Our therapists are happy to work with one parent individually or both partners as a couple.
Find out more about how these support services can benefit your family by scheduling a free 15-minute consultation.
Also, check out our Groups Page (link to groups) to find out more about some of the group offerings we have to help support new parents.
