Hey Busy Mama

Another year, another Christmas. This time with a baby in tow. 2021 marks the year of several firsts for myself. This year I graduated college in my thirties, rented an apartment in my husband’s hometown, began the process of becoming a homeowner, and gave birth to my first child. Of all the firsts, becoming a mom has been the most significant. Overnight my life changed. For the first time, I became a person who would wander the holiday season as a parent.

The 2021 Holiday Season is such a unique season in the sense that there is both anticipation and hesitation to build and repair relationships with loved ones. There is something so special yet nerve-wracking about bringing our little ones around family, sometimes for the very first time. With there seeming to be no end in sight for the pandemic we are in, many new parents are faced with an inner conflict of risk versus reward during this season. Navigating the holiday landscape comprised of get togethers and festivities is tricky enough without a little one in the mix.

If there is one thing I learned this holiday season, it’s that it’s okay to say “no” when it comes to deciding what is best for your baby. If you don’t want your baby to be passed around like a side of mashed potatoes, you can say so. Mama, when it comes to your baby, you don’t owe anyone anything. From a personal account, a comment was made to me after a family gathering that left me feeling slightly annoyed. This comment fielded somewhere along the general area of others wanting to have been able to hold my baby. No thank you.

That said, it’s important to be present during the holidays. For some, it’s easier said than done. As mamas, we are constantly on guard for potential dangers towards our children. However, these days will go by and someday we’ll look back at these memories with nostalgia. So pull your little ones closer, hug them a little longer, and love them a little more deeply. And remember, you are the mom and no one knows your little one better than you.

Happy Holidays