Unsolicited Mom Advice

Okay... maybe you don't.

I know that once upon a time I didn't. I rolled my eyes at lists of things I 'needed to know'. 'How do you know what I need to know?' I thought to myself, 'You're not my mom!'

And then I got pregnant.

All of a sudden I had become a person who clicked through images on Pinterest that declared that they would give me a top ten list of things I needed for the baby, or for breastfeeding, or to bring to the hospital. I loved these lists.

They were my crack.

So here I am, now a full-fledged mom, and with a mind full of a million lists, tips, and tricks that I would have loved while I was going through it all.

I was committed to keeping things as low-maintenance in pregnancy. I am serious about trying not to lose myself in motherhood. I want to stay close with my friends without kids. I will relish dropping the occasional F-bomb in an inappropriate circumstance.

I love good design and simplicity. I am the type of person who has started out this motherhood gig intending to surround our little babe with natural fibers and wooden toys. I hope to avoid too many things that require batteries (we'll see how long that lasts). I am fighting hard against my apartment being taken over by plastic, primary colours, or bad pastels.

I also like the sweet things: Wes Anderson films and Frankie magazine; creating beautiful spaces, and paper products. I have more washi tape than I know what to do with. I am a giant sucker for a colour palette.

More than any of that, I am a person who needed some serious tender lovin' care during my pregnancy and still do in motherhood. I appreciated caring, gentle, and frank advice from like-minded people. I needed websites that would keep me from worrying, that would reassure me that I was going to be a good mom.

I love having a laugh about all the weirdness of pregnancy and motherhood, and being honest about the lows, but in the midst of the rough bits, I want to hear about the good stuff. I want to focus on the simple and beautiful moments of my new life, and when I hit the rough bits, I want people to remind me that I can get through it (because I'm awesome).

So, if that sounds like your kind of thing, I hope you'll join me, and share your recommendations, suggestions, and ideas. I'll take your unsolicited advice all day every day!

Also, to all the mommas, daddies, and moms to be out there: you can get through this... because you're awesome!