Modern motherhood comes with an abundance of joy...and information! For one thing, we have access to seemingly unlimited resources and knowledge on how to mother “best." It seems that everyone has an opinion on how best to raise children. We are overwhelmed with choices on which bed to choose, which high chair, which feeding method, which birth method. With answers close at hand online, it doesn’t take much time to question your intuition. Don’t forget that your mommy intuition is almost a sixth sense! Mothers have relied on their intuition for millennia to protect and nourish their babies. We can still tap into that resource. Many times, having good information and tools can help us tap into that mother’s intuition more readily. I’m here to remind you not to discount your own motherly wisdom. I know personally how easy it is to second-guess my own decisions when it comes to parenting and motherhood, so today I’m sharing three tips that have helped me trust my mommy intuition:
Treat yourself as you would a friend. Many times when I have a parenting question, instead of looking for outside advice, I have looked inward and found wisdom. “What would I tell a friend if she asked this question or were faced with this choice?” Mamas, this is where confidence comes from: it comes from having faith in yourself and recognizing that YOU know the absolute best for your child’s needs.
Meditation
The me of 10 years ago would have rolled her eyes at meditation but with a marriage, career and 2 kids later, meditation has kept me sane. No, you don’t need to do yoga to meditate. You don’t even need a special cushion, music or even quiet to
meditate. Simply bringing your attention to your own breath, perhaps closing your eyes for a moment and repeating a simple and meaningful mantra or affirmation to yourself is a simple way to bring peace and confidence into your day. You will find affirmations that are meaningful to you but a few of my favorites are, “I am enough,” “I am a strong mother,” and “I do my best each day.” So breathe deeply and know you are strong. These moments of inward quiet can help you better hear those inklings of inspiration.
Trust your baby and yourself
YOU are the expert on your baby. If something doesn’t seem right, trust your feelings and seek help with appropriate professionals. As you listen and follow those intuitive feelings, the more confidence you will have in yourself as a mother. As your baby grows older, you will recognize more and more of these moments and as you follow them, you will create confidence in your motherhood!
So dear mama, when you need advice, look inward, create moments of internal quiet and trust yourself! You got this. Motherhood is hard, but you are already rocking it!