As a new mother, one often hears the advice, “Sleep while you can.” What a joke! It’s as if you can store sleep like a bank for future use. Seriously, how can you possibly sleep when your 8-month-old fetus is kicking your bladder? Once the baby arrives, the classic mantra is “Sleep when the baby sleeps.” Right.
I was well aware that parenthood would bring fatigue. My partner, Mark, and I anticipated the exhaustion that comes with caring for a newborn, and indeed, we were drained but managed to navigate through it. We had no clue what we were doing, but we survived.
In those initial weeks, we stumbled through days filled with feeding, diaper changes, and sporadic naps. We even found time to eat decent meals and take showers—sometimes. We went for walks around the neighborhood, though those often aligned with our baby’s infamous witching hour. We were tired, but we somehow felt almost human.
After a month, we hosted a gathering at our home, and several guests commented, “Wow, you look great. You actually seem rested.” You know why? Because taking care of a newborn pales in comparison to the sheer exhaustion of chasing after a 6-month-old who has just learned to crawl.
Just before Christmas, I was on the floor wrapping gifts while our son, Leo, was doing tummy time. Suddenly, he hoisted himself up onto his hands and knees, rocking back and forth. My husband and I exchanged glances—something was changing. Then, Leo inched forward. Could it be?
Before we knew it, he was scooting across the carpet, tearing into the wrapping paper. From that moment on, our Christmas transformed into a whirlwind of sweeping up pine needles, dodging ornaments, and rewrapping presents.
After a few weeks of army crawling, Leo discovered the stairs. I was in the kitchen, cooking dinner, and thought he was secure on the floor. I was mistaken. I watched in disbelief as he placed one hand on the first step, then the other. No. No. Nooooo!
I dashed up behind him as he lifted a knee onto the bottom step and began climbing. He made it all the way to the landing without stopping! At the top, he crawled over to the front door and banged on it. That became one of his favorite pastimes for months.
This milestone sent Mark and me into a frenzy. With crawling and climbing, Leo started pulling himself up on everything—the couch, the coffee table, even my pants! This led to a series of tumbles and falls, prompting us to invest in custom cushions for the fireplace and foam edging for sharp corners.
As Leo transitioned from a belly crawl to a full-on hands-and-knees hustle, he became a whirlwind of activity. He was everywhere—up the stairs, down the hall, climbing on the coffee table, unraveling toilet paper, and even flushing the toilet (our bathroom doors are now permanently closed). He’s constantly cruising from the coffee table to the end table and attempting to climb into his bouncer headfirst.
Now, I’m not just tired. I was tired when we first brought him home, but now? I’m utterly drained. And to top it off, it looks like he’s gearing up to walk any day now.
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Summary
The journey of motherhood is filled with unexpected challenges and fatigue, particularly when a baby transitions from being immobile to crawling and climbing. While early days with a newborn can be exhausting, the real test comes once they start exploring their surroundings. The author shares her experience of navigating these challenges, illustrating the chaotic yet rewarding nature of raising a young child.
Keyphrase: New Motherhood Exhaustion
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