Rely: Five Minute Friday

It’s been a long time since I joined my favorite writing community, Five Minute Friday. I’ve missed the weekly prompts and linkups and so I’m excited to re-emerge in the group. This week we are writing for five minutes on the topic RELY. Below is my unedited five minutes of reflection on this word.

Right now we are in the baby phase when I cannot rely on much of a routine. At five weeks, my gorgeous boy is making big developmental moves. Each day brings something new. He’s starting to let me know when he’s hungry and small smiles are giving glimpses into his personality. The gurgles and coos provide insight into his level of comfort while his screams alert me when the gas is built up in his belly and he needs relief.

While bonding has become our family’s first priority, I’ve had to make amends with the fact that I cannot rely on familiarity to guide me. This is my third baby, but each one has been so different. I’m learning just as much this time around as the others. Methods that soothed older children don’t always work with this one, and his feeding schedule is vastly different. I’m getting more sleep with this baby and I’m hopeful this is an indicator that he will be a good sleeper as time goes on.

I also cannot rely on consistent pockets of time for self-care and productivity. Instead, I take those moments when they come and I don’t let it bother me when I have to go a couple of days without a shower or if I don’t quite finish two pages in my journal before I hear cries coming from the bassinet.

Experience taught me that these days don’t last forever. One day soon I will miss these days, so I’m enjoying them in the present. I awake each day without expectations (as an Enneagram 1 that is counter to my nature) and I let my baby’s needs control how I spend my time. I’m still me and I still write and shower, but I have pivoted what I rely on to capture the fleeting moments with my newborn.

The Ameri Brit Mom