New parents…the neophytes. That’s I and my husband Mike. We are into the earliest stage of parenthood when our baby Maria Mikaela was born on July 28, 2012. It left us with the greatest challenge in taking care of our baby such that she was born premature and had to mature (particularly her lungs) in an incubator.
What does neophyte
parenting mean for us? It means having to deal with the following :
1. It means having to deal with a new member in the house.
I
and my husband definitely prepared for her coming. The moment we had our daughter in the house, our
mind and heart are disposed to having her as a “permanent” member of the
family. Though from time to time we got
to recall how a year before she was born, we were both so crazy preparing for
our wedding, we just feel so blessed that in less than a year after that she
“came” with a surprising “entrance” into
this world (at 7.5 months from age of my gestation. Brave girl ha…).
2.
It
means having to prepare a lot of things
for her
Eight
days before she was born, we decided to buy her clothes, stroller and many
other things that she would need aside from those given by my husband’s sister
and brother. I also have to make room
for a closet for her. We felt the
excitement of the preparation as for the first time, we celebrate that grand
entrance of our little girl.
3.
It
means having to adjust with our schedules
Since
we have been having difficulty finding a nanny (we had one and we simply decided to let her go on serous
grounds), I and Mike have to bear with changing our schedules at home. When we took our daughter out from the
hospital, part of the instructions would be to feed her every three hours. So that would mean some late night, midnight
and dawn feeding which we both do on different shifts so as not to physically exhaust
ourselves. Even going to Church together
has been adjusted such that each of us goes on different schedules for
now.
4.
It means having to deal with new tasks at home
We
had to deal with many new tasks such as feeding Mika every three hours,
changing her diaper, fixing her bed, bathing her in the morning, washing her
clothes, making sure she is up to her vitamins, regularly buy her supplies
(milk, diaper, etc.) and a lot of the little things we do for her (this is what you call, the "unlimited" part heheheh).
5.
It
means a real training and taming of character
As
parents we are both so aware of the physical fatigue and tiredness that we
experience everyday since Mikaela came.
There were times when we are both caught in a middle of so many things
to do that I realize all of them are on top priority ( I never thought such tightness could really happen). From this
at times, we get throw some “tight” words also from where we realize later we
have come to reach the peak of our tiredness already. Good thing we are both conscious of ourselves
that we immediately talk about it. We get to remind each other that taking care of Mikaela should not be a
burden but an expression of our love as parents without forgetting each other
in the process.
When
we land in bed both tired and exhausted, I feel the grace of still finding
humor with what happened during the day and bring everything up to prayer …all
in thanksgiving and gratefulness to God for giving us the gift of a child.
6.
It means having to deal with additional daily
expenses
As
a couple we had our own ”comfort zones”
as to spending. We have
experienced a very lose budget that we could have some extras to spend for our
personal stuffs. Now we are learning to
give them up for “someone new” in the house …our daughter Maria Mikaela. Though expenses went as far as the ceiling…or
shall I say beyond the ceiling (hahahah and up the sky) since we had to cope
with the high bills first and foremost at the hospital, I feel not being deprived of materials
things. There is such a big difference
with generosity. You give up something for love and you gain everything with joy and
hope for someone you dearly love.
I guess there would
be more challenges to come for us new parents and that would mean taking one
small step at a time. I and my husband
both learned from planning too much that
did not really end up as expected. We
are both learning in faith and submission to a God that holds each time of the
day. Thus, we can only do what is at
hand. Do the initial planning, present
them to God in prayer and “listen” for His leading.
Being new in the “business”
to parenting makes both of us – I and my husband – realize that this is
lifelong…tedious … yet in the name of love…not one of these can hinder our
hearts from fulfilling our calling …as parents…no fear at all.
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