Years ago, when my daughter was about 1, and I was back working at my school, (that eventually kicked me to the curb for having the audacity to have a baby and then ask to work part time, but that is an entirely other story) one of my colleagues, who had a pregnant girlfriend, asked me if I had any advice for having a new baby. At the time I felt totally overwhelmed with the question, as, my god, how much time did he have to listen? I could not possibly condense all of my suggestions and helpful advice into one sentence. For years, I've been thinking about it and wondering what one or two poignant, incredibly helpful things I could have told him, and I really couldn't think of anything.
Firstly, there is so much to say that it's just too overwhelming to hear, let alone to try and articulate.
Secondly, whatever you say, people will forget or not listen to in the first place.
But now, now we are six, I have a feeling that the best advice I could give anyone who is raising a child, is this.
Be prepared to pivot.
At every single stage of their life, whether the stages last 5 days, one hour, 5 minutes, a year, there is always another stage that is coming and the old stage will be gone, and as parents, we have learned to constantly be pivoting, changing with her, being led by her, and not being frustrated when what we want to do or what we think will happen will not. Instead, it will be completely different from how we imagined it.
You know that old saying, "if you want to make God laugh, make plans?" well, it's the same with kids. Never assume that anything will stay the same, or that you've figured anything out. Because as soon as you do, it changes.
Thanks for reading x
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