How did you change after becoming a mom?

[Anonymous]

Anxiety. So much anxiety now that I never dealt with before.

[Anonymous]

I don’t wear as many stilettos as I used to. Hard to run I’m those!!

[Anonymous]

I don’t wear most of my clothes, just the easiest most practical stuff. Part of that is Covid life though too.

I can’t handle any news stories where kids are hurt.

I stopped caring as much about work.

I feel more at peace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to love kids in general. I just thought they were awesome little people.

After I had children I love my own kids, but find other people’s children to be generally annoying and not cute. It’s like I have my daily fill of my own children and once the glass is full, there’s no room for others.

+1

[Anonymous]

More aware of the importance of community, for myself and for the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anxiety. So much anxiety now that I never dealt with before.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anxiety. So much anxiety now that I never dealt with before.

+1

+1 and I've heard that even after they leave for college, it's still there. I hope not!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m the opposite of a lot of posters, because I’m less anxious now than I used to be. My brain doesn’t have the leisure to create endless things to worry about because I’m much more in the moment. A nose needs wiping, a form needs signing, a crust needs to be cut off, and none of that will wait while I try to solve global warming and cure cancer just by fretting about them.

I’ve also become much more consciously aware of my own tendencies to be a fixer rather than a listener and an empathizer. And I try very hard to rein in my natural impulses to swoop in, and let my kids learn their own lessons, however painful, whenever it’s reasonable to do that.

I’ve also learned the importance of flexibility and adaptability. You can read all the books and study all the “methods,” but in the end you parent the kid you have in whatever way works for you and your family. Parenting is nothing if not humbling!

This is really quite beautifully said.

[Anonymous]

Romance novels completely lost their appeal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm less trusting of doctors.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lost interest in politics

Ditto, and my interest in travel. I hope I get it back once they’re older and able to walk around all day

[Anonymous]

My concerns are 100% about my kids only.

[Anonymous]

I can't watch anything on TV or any movies about a child getting hurt or dying. My anxiety has any rocketed, learning to accept help, learning to pick battles. If my son wants to wear mis matches Pjs to school. Fine by me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Romance novels completely lost their appeal.

Omg I know. When the heroine is all “can’t wait to get married and have babies!” I’m like...girl, you have no idea.

That said, those women in historical romances had a ton of servants so if they got through childbirth alive, it was smooth sailing ahead. Thr Comedy Central show, Another Century, parodies that a little— the heroines lead these vapid lives, and then it turns out they have like, five kids each, hidden in the nursery and raised by the nannies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I let you know when my brain comes back online again.

This. Six years in and I’m still waiting ...

Also, the anxiety. SO much anxiety. I worry about my kids all.the.time and cannot turn it off.

And lowered expectations. Like so much lower than I could ever imagine. I’m just grateful every day I get a shower and hot cup of coffee to myself (which doesn’t always happen with the work and school at home situation we have going on during COVID). If my kids eat a single baby carrot, I call that a win. If I get a load of laundry washed and folded in a day, it’s all good. But I’ve also come to accept that I’ll never get to everything I hoped to get done in a day.

The anxiety I got after becoming a parent turned out to be rooted in undiagnosed ADHD.

Your post reminds me of me. Treatment helps and my life is better for it.