2003-10-09 - 2:38 p.m. - Cycle day:

Things no one tells you about the first month post-partum ...

• Everyone will ask how much sleep you're getting. There is no right answer to these questions - people will be condescending and faux-sympathetic if you say you're tired, and they'll express bitter jealousy if you claim to have a good sleeper.
• Some people do feel an instant bond with their babies, but it's far more common for parents and children to build up and fortify their bond over time - weeks or months, even. Until then, caring for your child feels like an extended babysitting gig with a kid you really like.
• New moms should keep taking those stool softeners the doctor prescribed when you left the hospital. Trust me on this one. Seriously.
• The biggest challenge of co-sleeping is explaining it to other people.
• No one can do math when it comes to picking season-appropriate baby clothes. For the same age range, we got everything from polar fleece to seersucker.
• No one you know will parent exactly the same way you do. You'll sometimes be appalled by child-related decisions made by people you respect and care about. If you want to keep any parent friends at all, you have to let it go.
• It's not gas - teeny new babies really can smile out of pure contentment.

To be continued ...

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