I WILL RECLAIM MY LIFE!

This is what all mothers should shout after a long, stressful and sleep-deprived life. Do not allow your motherhood to remove all the glamour and happiness from you. You should take care of your self.

Steps to take:
1. Stabilize baby in this world - may take up to 3 months.
2. Shop shop shop! Do things that you wanted to do. Leave your baby if you must. Just make sure you leave him/her to a trusted person.
3. Vacay! You may do it alone or with your husband. But sometimes being alone and masochistically free is not that bad.

Dream for your self. Don't worry, some time soon your life will be yours!

• Your baby will soon grow up and leave you
• Your house will soon be clean because they won't be around too often
• Your laundry will soon be free from poop because they will poop somewhere else, in their dormitory's bathroom probably.
• Your house will be quiet, no crying, shouting, playing, because they're not their.

Soon it will happen. For now, enjoy the suffering and pay attention to them, they won't be babies forever.

Expecting a baby? It's not just all fun, there will be more frustration than happiness.

The pain doesn't stop after delivery
I had a normal delivery/ natural birth with my 6-lb baby after 24 hours of painful labor. The delivery was painful too but not as intense as a day-long suffering. I thought all the pain in the world I experienced from conception will disappear in a flash after that.  What other moms don't tell you is that the pain will continue for some time after giving birth. You will feel the laceration on your vagina, your stomach will ache every now and then, your back will hurt, you will feel dizzy and you just want to sleep the whole day. It will be difficult to poop, wee, eat and you will always cry. It will be intensely painful.

The longest weeks of my life
The day after going home from the hospital is the start of the longest weeks of my life. I counted each day, each second, and pray that it will go by fast. My day consisted of waking up after a nap (it's not even sleep), attending to the baby's needs, soothing her cries, changing her diaper, entertaining her and massaging her. I could barely escape from her to take care of my self. Brushing my teeth and taking a bath would be a marathon.

I was thinking that it would rather be easier if I just went to work so I can escape taking care of this baby. But that will not happen because deep inside I'd rather experience these difficulties than entrust my own child to a complete stranger. I'm on my second week with the baby now. They said that you and your newborn will eventually discover your rhythm. Well, I think we just did. It was a catastrophic rhythm, an unordered chaos.

The strength is from within
I don't know where I'd find all the strength to last the day. I just find comfort in the thought that my child will not be a baby forever. I just have to wait patiently, for how long I do not know, for her to grow up. I know this will forbid me to enjoy this moment but that thought keeps me hopeful. I never felt this incompetent. For years that I've been in corporate life, I've been very tough and proud. But this time I felt like I am out of control and I do not know what I'm doing. I realize clients are easier to please than babies. I also get strength from my ever supportive husband who've been through with me all the way.