Either way, sometimes I go into advice overload. There's just too much of it sometimes! Everyone means well, and I don't get upset with anyone for giving advice. I just don't always "listen" because sometimes I feel overwhelmed by it.
I actually know a lot more about babies and what it's going to be like than it might seem. I have a couple of reasons (in no particular order). I watched a plethora of educational baby shows for years. I watched "Bringing Home Baby" and saw what it was like for people to go through having a newborn at home the first days/weeks after the hospital. Granted, yes, the show is edited and doesn't show everything. However, once you watch show after show, you start to build knowledge. Another thing is the fact that I have cared for infants myself. I have been a nanny. I took care of three babies all by myself with no help or advice on what I was supposed to be doing or how to do it. I had to figure it out as I went along and ask a lot of questions. I worked in a daycare with infants. There, I learned how to effectively bundle a baby. I saw babies in all stages of development.
I hear things from what I should eat and shouldn't eat to whether I should nap or shouldn't nap. What things I need to get for my baby and what things I don't need to get...Whether I should nurse solely or have a pump...how much I should lift or not lift during pregnancy or how active/inactive I need to be...people saying that it's okay to drink wine to people criticizing my choice of not drinking any caffeine...and basically it all boils down to everyone says something different. I have had so much different advice, I don't even know what to do with it sometimes. Maybe I'll nap with one eye open while twitching a leg so I can nap and be active at the same time. I say all of this lightheartedly and in good humor because it's nothing I'm annoyed by. It's just funny how everyone has advice and if I listened to it all, I would be stuck in neutral.
I still have a lot to learn, but I have learned more than a lot of people know. And I'm sure that sharing advice is more or less done out of personal excitement that they have information and they want to share it with someone. I'm not really saying that I don't want advice because I do. I just sometimes feel like putting people on mute every now and then.... ;)
That's why they have that mute button on the remotes! Sometimes we don't need all the info :-) You know what is right for you.
ReplyDeleteI was at the grocery store the other day and said a little prayer as I was standing there amongst the fruit.
I love it that Darlene said a little prayer for you in the fruit section at the store:) I guess when it comes to advice, just press that mute button every now and then. I know I do.I liked what you said about napping with one eye open while twitching your leg. Especially when it comes to an expectant mama, eveyone seems to know what is best, huh.
ReplyDeleteDarlene, that was so thoughtful of you to pray for the baby in the fruit section! That was such a sweet thing to do! :) I wish I could just give you a hug. I will the next time I'm up visiting.
ReplyDeleteRebecca, you are such a sweetie. Hugs right back at you!
ReplyDeleteTruth is, I don't look or think of fruit in the same way anymore since reading your baby blog :-) You and your baby get many prayers and I get a lot of chuckles. I'm sure the people in the grocery store are thinking I'm nuts. :-)