Newborns: a series

So, we have another newborn in the house. Parts of it are wonderful, but mostly it is just hard. My last 3 newborns were really easy and I forgot why some people have a beaten down look during those first few weeks or months.

We had that beaten down look with our first too, not because she was a horrible newborn (she wasn't easy, but certainly not as tough as they come), I think we had that look because we were in our infancy of parenting. We had about as many skills in parenting a newborn as she had in living an independent life. I feel so sorry for myself when I remember those first few months. I missed out on almost all of the joy that was to be had because I was so overwhelmed by the learning curve.

Recently two friends have asked me to teach a class on newborns/babies/parenting in general. With my sympathies refreshed at how difficult it can be, especially for new moms and dads, I am developing a class on that vast, subjective and controversial subject. I am hoping to be able to write up many of my thoughts here, first so I have a digital copy, but also so I can get some feedback before I actually teach it live.

I can't promise how quickly I will post all of my thoughts, but here is what I am hoping to post next:
 1. Mommy: embracing your new role and title
2. Conversations to have with your husband before the baby arrives
3. A word about pregnancy and labor and delivery
4. Nursing: Scheduled or on demand
5. They kicked me out of the hospital: now what
6. Sleep training
7. Basic first aid: when do I call my pediatrician, when do I call my mother and when do I just Google it?
8. How do I entertain someone who can only see 9" away from their face?
9. Products that I find helpful or not.
10. Why and how to not give your baby a higher priority than your husband or other children.


There are other topics, but those will keep me busy for awhile. I am actually getting really excited about tackling this subject that I've been given practice in and chosen to research.