The Evolution of Mom
Yes, parenthood changes everything. But parenthood also changes with
each baby. Here, some of the ways having a second and third child
differs from having your first:
Your clothes
1st: you begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your ob-gyn
confirms your pregnancy.
2nd: you wear regular clothes for as long as possible
3rd: your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes
The baby's name:
1st: You pore over baby name books and practice pronouncing and writing
combinations of all your favorites
2nd: someone has to name their kid after your great-aunt Mavis. Might
as well be you.
3rd: you open a name book, close your eyes, and see where your finger
falls. Bimaldo? Perfect!
Preparing for the birth:
1st: you practice your breathing religiously
2nd: you don't bother practicing because you remember that last time,
breathing didn't do a thing.
3rd: you ask for an epidermal in your eighth month.
The layette:
1st: you prewash your newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and
fold them neatly in baby's little bureau.
2nd: you check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only
the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd: boys can wear pink, can't they?
Worries
1st: at the first sign of distress- a whimper, a frown, you pick up the
baby.
2nd: you pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your
firstborn.
3rd: you teach your 3 year old how to rewind the mechanical swing
Activities
1st: you take your infant to baby gymnastics, baby swing, and baby
story hour
2nd: you take your infant to baby gymnastics
3rd: you take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner
Going out:
1st: the first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home
five times.
2nd: just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number
where you can be reached.
3rd: you leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees
blood.
At home:
1st: you spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby
2nd: you spend a bit of every day watching to be sure your older child
isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd: you spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children
Yes, parenthood changes everything. But parenthood also changes with
each baby. Here, some of the ways having a second and third child
differs from having your first:
Your clothes
1st: you begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your ob-gyn
confirms your pregnancy.
2nd: you wear regular clothes for as long as possible
3rd: your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes
The baby's name:
1st: You pore over baby name books and practice pronouncing and writing
combinations of all your favorites
2nd: someone has to name their kid after your great-aunt Mavis. Might
as well be you.
3rd: you open a name book, close your eyes, and see where your finger
falls. Bimaldo? Perfect!
Preparing for the birth:
1st: you practice your breathing religiously
2nd: you don't bother practicing because you remember that last time,
breathing didn't do a thing.
3rd: you ask for an epidermal in your eighth month.
The layette:
1st: you prewash your newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and
fold them neatly in baby's little bureau.
2nd: you check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only
the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd: boys can wear pink, can't they?
Worries
1st: at the first sign of distress- a whimper, a frown, you pick up the
baby.
2nd: you pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your
firstborn.
3rd: you teach your 3 year old how to rewind the mechanical swing
Activities
1st: you take your infant to baby gymnastics, baby swing, and baby
story hour
2nd: you take your infant to baby gymnastics
3rd: you take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner
Going out:
1st: the first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home
five times.
2nd: just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number
where you can be reached.
3rd: you leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees
blood.
At home:
1st: you spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby
2nd: you spend a bit of every day watching to be sure your older child
isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd: you spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children
