I’ve learned in a very short time how many decisions a parent needs to make. For the past year+, the hubs and I have been bombarded with information, opinions, books & articles from experts, nudges from well-meaning family & friends…enough to give me an ulcer, make my head spin, & literally cause me practically a nervous breakdown at the same time. Here’s the short list of the things that we as first time parents have “had” to think about:
- obstetrician or midwife
- hospital, birth center, or home birth
- find out the sex or let it be a surprise
- natural birth or epidural
- breastfeeding, formula feeding, or combo
- get LL vaccinated or wait and see
- co-sleeping or bassinet & crib
- no cry or cry it out sleep training
- baby-wearing or allow LL independence
- stay at home mommy or working mommy
- in-home babysitter, small daycare, or larger center
- disposable or cloth diapers
- rice cereal or oatmeal
- pureed foods or baby-led weaning
- homemade baby food or store bought
- conventional or natural & alternative remedies for LL’s ears
And those are only the items I can list at this moment! For the longest time I agonized over these decisions….until the other day at LL’s 9th pediatrician appointment in 6 weeks. She had just received her second of three horribly painful Rocephin injections in an attempt to beat this awful, seemingly never-ending double ear infection. I was emotionally, mentally, & physically drained and was pleading for her to be better. But, she needed yet another injection. I fought back tears as my sweet baby girl was holding her breath in pain & then let out a wail that still causes me to cringe & choke up when I think about it. I couldn’t think of anything to soothe her. No matter what I tried I felt helpless as she just screamed in agony. By God’s grace I began singing “Jesus Loves Me,” the KV version: