tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288916.post8952522898887392444..comments2023-09-18T06:03:31.511-04:00Comments on This Girl's Life: {welcome to motherhood...part 2}Mandy Ford Art & Illustrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15290049477795062895noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288916.post-52419364212054986302012-07-18T13:00:53.718-04:002012-07-18T13:00:53.718-04:00As I sat here, reading this post (how did I miss t...As I sat here, reading this post (how did I miss this originally?!), tears welled up. Because I could empathize w/ EVERY SINGLE SENTENCE you wrote. B/c those similar emotions still feel as fresh to me as if they happened yesterday. When I reflect on those early days, for me I can't remember the "good" parts.....just those horrible, overwhelming, sad feelings. And like you, I wish I could remember how tiny Quinn felt in my arms, her newborn smell, revel in her newborn whimpers.<br /><br />And I only had ONE newborn to get to know!! You, my dear, have been thru the wringer. You're also proof that things can/do get SO MUCH better. Doesn't matter how you get there, as long as you get there. Your boys are so lucky to have you. =]<br /><br />Thanks for your email, it was so kind. Half the battle is not feeling alone in all this & you helped me w/ that. I heart you to the moon & back!!!!<br /><br />xoxoFreckles Chickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15378234055571892527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288916.post-32481347381074580112011-07-30T13:20:14.997-04:002011-07-30T13:20:14.997-04:00oh dear...here I am late to the party and just rea...oh dear...here I am late to the party and just reading this, but I thank Beth (Unskinny Boppy) for sending you my way...(A Nest for All Seasons)<br /><br />I have SO much in common with you girl...I felt MUCH of this as well, but I had my babies one at a time. I too leaned heavily on my husband (still do!) when everything seemed like the world was ending and there was no end in sight during that horrible fog. ...AND I just read your bop... crafts, interior design, coffee or dark chocolate. UM YEAH. We could so be friends :)ARKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13256471462996302348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288916.post-67306600408044162682011-07-28T18:01:03.259-04:002011-07-28T18:01:03.259-04:00Mandy, thank you for being brave enough to share t...Mandy, thank you for being brave enough to share this experience. Your story, minus twins (I only had one at a time) resonates with me and how I felt. You hit the nail on the head when you said that you established a "new norm". I think that's what it takes, along with doing what your gut tells you and not what you "think" you're supposed to be doing.Susannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15282463173341278709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288916.post-61484169888868900562011-07-28T14:04:32.743-04:002011-07-28T14:04:32.743-04:00I am so proud of you for being an encouragement to...I am so proud of you for being an encouragement to so many mothers out there who have and will feel the same way you did. You are a great mother, and one small thing I take from your story is to do things the way they are working for YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. Not someone else's "ideal," but your ideal. I can't tell you the opinions I heard from friends (not to mention random people) when I opted not to breastfeed my third child, after doing so with the first two. I was very afraid of the overwhelmed feeling I knew I would get during feeding times, and my husband and I decided that formula would be best for this child...and you know what, it is and was the right decision for us. All your decisions were right for your family, because you made them with your best interests in mind. I am so thankful to call such a strong woman my friend. :)Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09042784618621553759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288916.post-74158796664589289772011-07-28T13:39:52.415-04:002011-07-28T13:39:52.415-04:00Mandy-
You're so not alone. I, too, struggle...Mandy-<br /><br />You're so not alone. I, too, struggled to bond with my son in those early weeks. I felt many of the same things you did, but I only had to handle one newborn, not two! I wished I would have gotten help much sooner than I did.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your story. I think many new moms can benefit from hearing that it's not all blissful and beautiful at the beginning and that's okay.Laura, Hoosier Life Hoosier Wifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08190037912494694400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288916.post-68283879416526654992011-07-28T12:46:05.132-04:002011-07-28T12:46:05.132-04:00Mandy, I was around before you had these two amazi...Mandy, I was around before you had these two amazing lil boys and I feel so blessed that i could be apart of their growing up and lives. I know you had a rocky start but you did very well and kept a brave outlook on things. thankfully i have been around babies all my life so the transition was totally different but in your case i think you came through that valley with courage, strength and two boys who adore every minute with you. Love you guys~ Faithfaithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288916.post-6002693096994696182011-07-28T11:26:10.124-04:002011-07-28T11:26:10.124-04:00Hi-I live in Vancouver, Canada and have been readi...Hi-I live in Vancouver, Canada and have been reading your blog for over a year. I appreciate the diversity, life with boys, and your design tips. Thank you for your efforts in keeping up the blog!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288916.post-26295017196199932782011-07-28T11:03:20.472-04:002011-07-28T11:03:20.472-04:00You should never feel guilt about not being able t...You should never feel guilt about not being able to breastfeed. I think every mother should try it and see if it works for them... but if it doesn't, there's no shame in it.<br /><br />I'm so glad you posted your story!Thrifty Crafty Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15729740517746149589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288916.post-20344456572773204712011-07-28T10:45:55.121-04:002011-07-28T10:45:55.121-04:00I love that you can openly share your feelings. I...I love that you can openly share your feelings. It's hard as a mom to admit when we don't connect to our babies - but it's so true! I was so out of it during my daughters first month - I can't remember taking he time to really snuggle and enjoy her. Wish I had now. Thanks for sharing. makes me want to go find those old baby pics.Bobbie Garnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01618095056360298855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288916.post-16946865274457389192011-07-28T10:22:51.349-04:002011-07-28T10:22:51.349-04:00Mandy, I'm one mommy whose heart so deeply res...Mandy, I'm one mommy whose heart so deeply resonates with your experience and I know I'm not the only one! Thank you for sharing in truth and being real! I remember holding Levi when he was three weeks old, staring out the window, so numb I was scared to the core. I couldn't smile or cry, I was just numb and so, so sad.<br /><br />Thank God for husbands of rock!! That's when I too, with Andy's encouragement, quit breast feeding. We were a happier, healthier family after that. Can't deny it!<br /><br />Love you! And oh those pictures are so precious :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28288916.post-38191317898618323302011-07-28T10:21:44.449-04:002011-07-28T10:21:44.449-04:00Well, that was incredibly inspiring, heartfelt, an...Well, that was incredibly inspiring, heartfelt, and brave. You are not alone and you never will be. Thanks for sharing this- as a therapist you know I love talking about feelings!! Love you girl. - LauraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com