How to Survive Pregnancy with a Toddler
Toddler life is not for the weak.
I’m drained, mentally, physically, and emotionally.
And this is coming from a mama who has a lot of help from her husband to her parents and in-laws.
And for that, I’m extremely grateful and blessed.
But I can’t lie to you and tell you that it’s easy or that it’s gotten better. Honestly, the older he gets, the wilder he gets. He is exploring the world around him, testing boundaries, and living his best toddler life. I can’t fault him for that but he sure is giving us a run for our money.
And then to add pregnancy to the mix, you don’t understand exhaustion until you’ve experienced pregnancy exhaustion. No matter how many hours of sleep I get or naps I take, I’m constantly tired, groggy, and annoyed, which makes for a not so pleasant mama bear.
So to combat that, I have added the following into our lives to make pregnancy and parenting a toddler not so bad.
Here we go
Daycare - When I found out I was pregnant, Micah was still with us at home 2 days a week and then with my in laws 3 days a week. While this was very helpful, work got too stressful for me that I couldn’t balance having him home, even if it was only 2 days a week. In addition, there were some weeks where my in laws couldn’t watch him, which messed with my work schedule, as I’m required to be in office 3 days a week. If Micah is home, I would have to work additional days from home to ensure my husband had help as he works full time from home. In other words, it was a lot, so we decided to put him into daycare and that has been the best decision we have made. Not only is he able to interact with other kids his age and learn, but he comes home relaxed and ready to cuddle on the bed, which means less running around for this big mama. There are days where he is still active after daycare, but after bath time, he is ready to cuddle up with a warm bottle of milk and knock out.
Dividing up Household duties - I realized during my first year of motherhood is that I think I can do everything and be everything for my child. I would rarely ask my husband for help and then get mad when he didn’t offer, or he didn’t do things the way that I wanted him to do. This would definitely cause marital strife, so to combat that. Malik and I have sat down and discussed what each person is responsible for when it comes to Micah to ensure that the other one doesn’t feel like they’re doing it all by their selves. So, to all the other mothers out there, communicate. You don’t have to do it on your own.
Reaching out for Help - This ties into the earlier point made. If you need a break , a day off, or just want to take a kid-free vacation, reach out to your village for help. It’s nice that there are some mothers out there that don’t need breaks from their kids, but this mama does. I also need a break from my husband too. So don’t look at me that way lol. Having time to refresh and recharge helps, especially when you’re pregnant.
Making time for myself - Take care of yourself, this means mentally, physically, emotionally, and mentally. I’m also speaking to myself here, because the fast food runs and lack of exercise has really worn your girl down. Figure out what makes you feel good and happy as an individual and do those things. Use those kid-free breaks and treat yourself.
Look for additional resources - If you’re struggling with a certain aspect of parenting, google is your friend, even Tik Tok is helpful. Research ways on how you can improve and be the best mom to your little kid. Seeking guidance and advice is hard but neccessary because when it comes to parenthood there’s no one size fits all. Figure out what type of impact you want to have on your kid and do the work.
These things have not only kept me sane but has made motherhood more fulfilling. Not saying I don’t still have my bad days (if you follow me on Instagram/Facebook, you know the TikTok’s I post at times) but overall, I wouldn’t give up being Micah’s mom and the cute little man in my belly for anything in the world.
What I’ve learned during this journey is that everything worth having requires sacrifice and right now, the toddler stage requires sacrifice. But it won’t last forever, one day you will look back and miss these days. So instead of waiting to cherish them when the kids are older, cherish them now.
Let me know in the comments how you are able to surive pregnancy with a toddler
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Tasha Battle (@tashathompsontv) • Instagram photos and videos