“Type A” Parents: How to Feel Successful with an Infant
IN YOUR PRE-BABY LIFE, YOU LOVED TO BE PRODUCTIVE... TO FEEL IN CONTROL.
YOU LIVE FOR A TO-DO LIST...AND CROSSING ITEMS OFF THE LIST.
YOUR ARE NOT ALONE. Many parents struggle with their Type A or perfectionists qualities they become new parents.
WHAT DOES "SUCCESS" EVEN MEAN WITH AN INFANT?
YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS no longer works.
With a baby, success isn't about getting something "right" or "wrong,"
SUCCESS AS A PARENT MEANS...
LEARNING SOMETHING NEW. At the end of every day, ask yourself "what did I learn today?" Sometimes the answer is "when I don't snack every 2 hours, I get cranky," other times it was, "when my baby arches their back, they may have a burp." Learning new mini lessons every day.
TRIAL & ERROR
If there was a manual for raising an infant, we'd have it by now!
There is no one right way.
Parenting is a series of trials and...trials. Don't perceive things as mistakes, just learning opportunities.
As a parent of a new baby, you are doing so many things (feed baby, soothe baby, change baby, repeat...).
At the same time, it's hard not to feel as "productive" as your pre-pregnancy life.
Know that you are doing enough.
BE KIND TO YOURSELF
Check out this new “to do” list for Type A parents.
BONUS POINTS FOR:
Cleaning bottles or pump parts
Washing your hands (yay hygiene!)
Opening a piece of mail
Showering
About the Author: Kathleen Stern is a certified birth and postpartum doula, founder of Boston Area Doulas, and Type A personality.
