Favorite parenting advice

September 12, 2008

So, Friday is upon us.  Last week’s “Things I Love Thursday” was not a smashing hit, but I’m doing my best to not take it personally.   Thanks to those of you who did participate…and the rest of you, help me out here!

OK, so today you’ve got to tell me your favorite parenting advice.  My favorite parenting advice: Trust yourself.

I’m not sure I can adequately describe just how high-strung I am as a mother.  Especially with my first.  In fact, when I think back on it now, I’m surprised someone didn’t lock me up.  I would’ve caused a whole lot less damage.

But I did do a few things right and a huge lesson came for me right at the beginning.  I had just given birth to my first child and unbeknownst to me (because who really has a clue when they’re a first-time mom?), my daughter was not getting enough to eat.  She was a sleepy baby so waking her up to eat was a feat in itself.  Then the more she slept, the less she ate.  The less she ate, the more lethargic she became and therefore the more she slept and you can see how we began to spiral downward quite rapidly.

Anyway, I kept freaking out because I was sure something was wrong but I didn’t know what and everyone around me was trying to keep me from freaking out because I was, as I said, way too high-strung.  This is a nice way of saying they thought I was off my rocker.  Which I probably was to some degree, but whatever.

So it finally culminated in my sleepy baby not waking up at all on her second day of life.  I called the pediatrician and told him she wasn’t waking up.  He told me to relax, she’s fine and call me in the morning.  I’m generally good at doing what I’m told and I tend not to question authority outwardly, but a whole new me busted right out.  I called the pediatrician again and said (through clenched teeth), “I don’t think you understand.  I’m pinching her–HARD–on her chest and she is not waking up.”  “Oh,” he says, “take her to the ER right now.”

Anyway, at this point we didn’t know she was only dehydrated (they thought she might have meningitis or some other horrid disease) so she spent several days in the PICU and it was altogether some of the most anxious days of my life and I’d like to throw up just thinking about it now.  But it was a GREAT lesson for me.  Trust myself.  It’s true what they say about a mother’s sixth sense (I personally think it’s a God thing He turns on as soon as that kid comes shootin’ out).  I KNEW something was wrong (even though I didn’t know what) and I was right.  Oh yes I was.  So when I get the opportunity, I always tell moms: TRUST YOURSELF.

OK, your turn.  Hit me with your favorite parenting advice.  Either write a post about it on your blog (and then link to THAT post–as opposed to the main page of your blog–in Mr. Linky below) or leave your advice in the comments.

As for next week, we’re going back to the books. I’m always looking for good books and I’m hoping we’ll get some more brave souls to join us, so I want to repeat what we did last week.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be children’s picture books, but for some of us, those seem to be the only books we read!

Related posts:

1. Friday Favorite: Positive Discipline A-Z
2. Parenting tip: How to reboot a sluggish outing with kids
3. Advice from a Newlywed
4. My absolute favorite dinner out
5. Friday Favorite: Elbert’s Bad Word

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