Choosing to become a mommy is a big deal, and of course, there’s going to be all kinds of preparation you’ll need to go through to ensure you’re ready to start a family. But most importantly, you’re going to need to be in the right place mentally, and a lot of your focus deserves to go towards that.
We’ve listed a few things to think about, in-depth, below. If you’re feeling a little insecure about your chances of being a mother, or you’re feeling ready and excited, it’s always best to sit yourself down and work out what’s going on in your head properly.
Think About Your Emotions and How to Deal with Them
Being a mother means being in charge of your emotions around the new life you’ve brought into the world. Of course, you don’t need to have a complete handle on them when your child is out of earshot, but you definitely need to know how to keep in control of them and use them productively, when your little one is around.
That might take some deep soul searching, or therapy, or even just using a diary to get everything out at the end of the day, and there’s nothing shameful about any of these options!
Think About the Time You’ll Need on Your Side
If you want to be a parent, you’re going to need a lot of time on your hands. Not only that, you’re going to need a lot of patience as well! You’ll need to be able to dedicate a good portion of your waking hours to the new baby in the house, or the young child you’ve given a new home, and that takes a lot of adjustment to your current schedule.
You might need to leave your job, or take on reduced hours after your maternity leave is over (if you get any to begin with). You might need to take on a new job that allows a greater sense of flexibility, or you might have to start working from home. You might also need to cut down on your own ‘me time’ hours – a child can interrupt these at any point, and being able to be patient and understanding about this is key.
Be Ready for Disappointments
Of course, if you want to become a mommy in the near future, there’s a good chance you’ll have a lot of disappointments to get through first. You never know when exactly you’ll get pregnant, or if that adoption request will actually be approved, or if you’ll need to visit Advanced Fertility for egg donor and IVF info – you’ll only be able to celebrate once you know for sure. And being able to handle any disappointments is all part of the process; you need to be productive and patient with your efforts.
Mentally preparing yourself for motherhood is a long process, so make sure you start it long before you try for a child. It’s what you deserve!
