Parenting 101 take 2!

Everything in life is a matter of perspective.  Here I am starting all over again with what I thought I have long graduated from with a new baby in our midst. Being on call for Solana’s regular feedings and the rest of my children’s needs alone should already make me dread the hectic days ahead, but I constantly find myself renewed with energy and awe.

Life is beautiful and I am able to see things with more clarity and vision and, yes, more calmness.  I guess that all comes with age?  So many times I have told myself I’m too old to breastfeed and change diapers, but each time I see Solana light up in my presence as if I mean the whole world to her, I begin to love life’s many twists and turns all over again. It’s nice to feel needed once again in that way, but I am guarding myself against keeping Solana all to myself and making her feel that it’s just her and me against the world. After all, she does belong to a large family with members who are all eager to get their share of Solana.

What amazes me about being a new mommy again is the wealth of support I am getting from a variety of people. There are many hands that want to help in this home alone.  Aside from that, there’s my mom who is very generous with all her resources for all her grandchildren and overflowing with words of wisdom when it comes to rearing my children.  I am also blessed to have a sister who, after retiring from her corporate career, has started a successful baby line business, Spinkie.  Mutya is my source of high-quality, stylish baby outfits and accessories. She teaches me to be a stylish mommy and I give her tips on better ways of parenting our children and prioritizing our husbands while juggling our many roles in life. It’s a win-win situation for both of us!

I have made tons of friends through my social networking community. My Twitter account which my daughter Ella helped set up has been so helpful.  Every question I have with regard to my concerns about being a new mom is answered after just a tweet. Once, I tweeted about needing a baby carrier for my trip to the States with Solana and Jen Tan of @Next9Baby replied and offered her Ergo carrier. She also had it sent to my house in a jiffy. She’s a great source for breastfeeding bibs and cloth diapers.  @Mommymundo is a great source of mommy events and useful product lists for new and experienced moms. I look forward to Panjee Tapales’ tweets when it comes to everything natural and organic especially to nourish myself as a mom in the South.  She’s introduced me to herb grower Gejo Jimenez for all my freshly harvested organic herbs, among other things, which have been such a blessing. Check out these other moms’ twitter accounts:  @manilamommy, @mymomfriday, @dainty_mom, @painterswifeph, @ocmominmanila, @earthlingsmama, @mamababylove.

Be wary though, when there is information overload, new mommies end up confused and lost especially when they encounter unsolicited advice from even well-meaning folks. The best thing I have learned when I was just a new mother is to listen to all of those advice, give a thankful smile, and then head to a quiet place to discern and listen to my own instincts as a mother.  I almost always find out that the answers I need lie deep within, as I believe mothers have been wired in that way to survive and thrive for her sake and her children’s as well.

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Follow author on Twitter @mommymaricel.