As an expectant mother, it’s likely you heard the advice, “Sleep now while you can.” Really? As if you can store sleep for later use, especially when your eight-month-old fetus is using your bladder as a trampoline. Once the baby arrives, you quickly learn the mantra, “Sleep when the baby sleeps.” Sure, that’s easy to say!
I entered parenthood fully aware that exhaustion was part of the package. My partner and I were prepared for the challenge of caring for a newborn, and while it was tough, we managed. We certainly fumbled our way through the early weeks filled with endless feeding, diaper changes, and sleep deprivation. However, we still carved out moments to eat proper meals, shower, and even take neighborhood walks, often coinciding with our baby’s infamous witching hour. We were tired, yes, but somehow we managed to feel somewhat functional.
When our son was about a month old, we hosted a small gathering. To my surprise, several guests commented, “Wow, you look great. You actually seem rested.” The secret? Caring for a newborn is a walk in the park compared to chasing after a six-month-old who has just discovered crawling.
A few weeks before Christmas, while I was busy wrapping gifts, our son was on the floor enjoying some tummy time. Suddenly, he pushed himself up onto his hands and knees, rocking back and forth. My husband and I exchanged a look—something significant was happening. To our amazement, he began crawling across the carpet, tearing into a roll of wrapping paper. Christmas quickly turned into a whirlwind of sweeping up pine needles and firewood splinters, relocating ornaments, and rewrapping presents.
After a few weeks of army crawling, he set his sights on the stairs. I was in the kitchen preparing dinner, convinced he was safe, but I was mistaken. I watched in disbelief as he reached for the first step, then the next. Before I knew it, he was climbing the entire flight of stairs without stopping. At the landing, he crawled to the front door and banged on it. That simple act became one of his favorite pastimes.
This new milestone sent my husband and me into a state of panic. Once our son started crawling and mastering the stairs, he also began pulling himself up on everything—furniture, my clothes, even the fireplace. This led to more than a few tumbles, prompting us to add custom cushions to the fireplace and foam edging to sharp corners around the house.
His belly crawl quickly morphed into a full-on hands-and-knees sprint. Now, he’s into everything—up the stairs, down the hall, on the coffee table, and even trying to climb into his bouncer. Flushing the toilet has become a recent fascination (which means bathroom doors are now always closed). He’s testing his limits by attempting to climb headfirst into the pack ‘n play and cruising from one piece of furniture to another.
Now I’m not just tired; I’m utterly drained. Sure, I was exhausted when we first brought him home, but now? I’m completely wiped out. And just when I thought it couldn’t get more taxing, he’s ready to take his first steps.
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In summary, parenting is a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns, and the exhaustion only intensifies as your little one grows more mobile. From sleepless nights to constant vigilance, the fatigue may feel overwhelming, but every milestone makes it all worthwhile.