Promise #1: Stay true to YOU

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It sounds easy, right?  Well, it’s about as easy as pushing a twenty-pound pumpkin through a muddy pumpkin patch.

Don’t be fooled by binkies and bambino(a)s.

Babies, hereafter referred to as monkeys, munchkins and (occasionally) angels, have a way of messing with you and your world. Sure they’re cute. Sure they’re cuddly. They’re also needy. Way needier than you on your neediest day.

Luckily, you’re wired to meet your monkey’s needs. You just need to hang on to your own life-preserver. And by that I don’t mean a bright orange inflatable. I mean you.

You need to hang on to YOU.

It’s easy to forget yourself in the early stages of the parenting game, but you can’t let it happen. It’s all a test and you need to stand tall from the beginning…or the middle…or whatever point you realize maybe you’re not standing as tall as you can, that’s when you need to start.

Let’s take an abbreviated journey through Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. For the sake of argument, I’m going to assume you have a roof over your head and you’re eating and drinking as needed.  What you’re probably NOT doing or what you need to do MORE of to float along happily is meet your basic need for sleep and sex. That’s it. No kidding.

Here’s how a quickie and a nap can change your world…

1. A little love and a little rest will keep you energized.

2. Energy and intimacy will help you feel secure and stable.

3. Stability will help you love and be loved.

4. Love will help you achieve just about anything.

5. Achievement will help you understand that you have so much to give to your little monkey(s).

Get back to basics. Get back to you.