Member-only story
No, The Newborn Stage Is Not The Hardest. It’s A Precursor.
Sleep-deprived new parents, hear me out
Disclaimer: This is not intended to make light of the very real suffering of those with postpartum depression, or who may have had disabling birth stories. It is not for me to judge how difficult the first years may have been for each person. Rather, this is meant to be a relatable and, at times, humorous look at how stressful all stages of parenting can be.
She came at me with her eight hours of sleep, perfectly styled hair and meticulously applied makeup.
“You know, the newborn stage isn’t the hardest. You may think you are tired now, but when you have to drive your kids to all their appointments and activities, that is where you really get tired.”
I stared at her with equal parts disbelief and venom.
How could she say that to me?
Here I was holding my five month old baby, bags under my eyes from the second night in a row of not sleeping. A teething baby does that to you. I couldn’t remember the last time I had brushed my hair, showered, or eaten anything substantial.
If looks could kill, let me tell you, I would be writing this from a much different location.
