Newborns: The Honeymoon Phase

Here we are just 2 months after we got married. Some friends gave us baby clothes as a wedding present. We loved the gift and all 5 of our children have modeled this sweater. :)

Looking back on this photo I am reminded of the honeymoon phase of marriage. We experienced wedded bliss! Don't get me wrong the first few months of marriage had their challenges; learning to share a bed, finances, and schedule with another person. Not to mention the shift in roles and identity. It seemed as though everything in my life had changed - even my name! But I gladly gave up my ways as a single woman for the benefits of being a married woman. I knew before I got married that there would be some sacrifices (no more flirting with other men, no more eating whenever and whatever I wanted for dinner, no more complete control over the finances....the list goes on and on), but I knew it would be worth it. I was gaining a husband.

Becoming a mother is a lot like becoming a wife. You even get a new name! Most people know of and expect the sacrifices and adjustments required upon marriage, but they do not expect to need to sacrifice or adjust further once they have a baby. You had to learn to share your schedule with your husband and now you need to share your time with an infant. You had to learn to share your resources and now you will divide them further. You had to learn how to share your body with your husband and now you will also be sharing your body with your baby. Becoming a mother brings a lot of changes that are not always welcome. There are a lot of sacrifices that we make, but they are worth it!

Having an infant is like the honeymoon phase of a marriage. Yes, it's hard, the learning curve is steep and there are many adjustments, but all your baby asks of you is love. Unconditional love. There are many things that can step in and rob us of the joy of this phase. Post-partum depression, sleeplessness, worry, and perfectionism all keep us from experiencing this honeymoon phase.

I have always had a difficult time accepting God's unconditional love toward me. I had never felt true unconditional love toward anyone until I had children. Meeting your newborn is a holy moment. There is nothing they have done to earn your love, but you love them just because they are yours. 

Don't get me wrong - having a newborn is also one of the most challenging times in life, but don't allow the challenges rob you of the joy that is to be had!