on motherhood: everything i need to know i learn it day by day

- expect the unexpected
- thou can not hide anything from your obgyn
- thou shall not lie about anything to your obgyn
- you don't sleep. hardly. at all.
- babies' nails grow fast. faster than their hair.
- babies cry. often for no reason.
- you're no longer pregnant, yet you still eat like a monster. embrace it.
- plan ahead.. plan waaaay ahead (about health fund, insurance, babysitter vs daycare vs grandma parenting issue, even about which parenting magazine to subscribe!)
- when pregnant, investing in childcare and breastfeeding classes is way more useful than a shopping havoc in itc
- you'll get accustomed with hospital scent/excessive carbol aroma due to routine visit
- as 21st century's parents, you'll have a whole lot of new 'trends' to adapt with, such as
1) not to worry about babies becoming 'bau tangan' no more, because now we know attachment parenting method,
2) too many drugs is no good, rational use of drug (RUD) is the guideline and home treatment is the first option,
3) tv on early age is no good,
4) empeng is no good,
5) hypnoparenting method
and these stuff will likely put you into endless confrontations with your mother.
- as 21st century's parents, you'll be exposed onto abundant information and inputs about child care.. you can no longer rely on the old "mother knows best" proverb :S
- you'll befriend online shops and address the seller as "sis" like everybody else does, like in "kurangin dong, sis."
- you'll value money more. because one time eating out is worth a week supply of diapers
- commitment you make to give ASIX (asi ekslusif) means you have to be ready to nurse 24/7 (face it when people refuse to help you calm the baby during colic dengan alasan "kan botol susunya di kamu")
- there will be "growth spurts" period, and during it, you'll nurse incessantly. so the best attire would be detachable tops.
- being married to a man who's not afraid of diapers was one of the best decisions i've ever made.
- being such a neat and hygienic freak about it all would only make matters worse (and more likely make you suffer from baby blues)
- (thus) in the end you'll make peace with your mother (and her 'ol-school' childcare methods)
- a 'teman sepenanggungan' is a luxury to have throughout stressful times as a new mother (cheers, Lia! haha) because she's the one who'd understand the lack of sleep, the cracking nipple, the why-dont-you-stop-crying moments, etc..
- less toiletries is better (for the baby)
- you'll consider blogging to record your journey but never have the time to do it
- you'll consider being a full-time mother but don't have the guts to do it
- once in a while, you'd smile upon seeing a pregnant woman
- you'll have to learn to trust strangers
- you can't help not to compare your baby with others'
- (relying on) common sense is the best policy
- a baby's smile is contagious
- make it easy on yourself, babies are the most forgiving...
- but still, sebagai orangtua amatir, sometimes the littlest things worry you... most of the time :P