Losing yourself after having a baby
Constant caregiving and relentless self-sacrifice make parents feel like their individual identity has completely dissolved into what they can provide for their children. This leaves them feeling lost, exhausted, and unsure if this perpetual state of giving is permanent.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1winging it and figuring out what works for the specific family
- 2reading parenting styles, books, and blogs
- 3using online resources to learn about child safety and care
- 4trusting maternal/parental instinct
- 5listening to podcasts and discussing expectations with a partner
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I feel like I’m really just here to serve.”source ↗
“Every minute feels like I’m just giving and giving and sacrificing.”source ↗
“I just feel like I’ve completely dissolved into what and how much I can provide.”source ↗
“How did you learn how to parent?”source ↗
“Did you just guess and guess daily?”source ↗
“I do understand children do not come with a manual, but I am trying to learn, understand, and assimilate what is to come.”source ↗
“I didnt know much about parenting, no classes, I'm also a stay at home mom.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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