Moms Talk: What Is The Best Advice You Received As A New Mom?

Each week, Patch receives questions from readers who send them to us by hitting the email the author button. The Alpharetta Moms Council then answers these questions each week. We offer our opinion and then open up the discussion for readers to give their opinions too. We hope you join us in the discussion by adding your  insight to the discussion in the comments section at the end of the article. Send us your questions and we will discuss them in a coming week. 

As new moms, we all get a lot of advice. Much of the time, it is advice that we do not want to hear. Sometimes, however, it is a really great idea or a great piece of advice. 

Q: What is the best piece of advice you were given as a new mom?

A: The best advice I got, which unfortunately I didn't heed because I didn't understand at the time, was to take time for myself and my marriage.

Not living near family, it wasn't easy to have time off and I just got used to my child/children being a constant part of my life. I don't think I could have done it any other way because hindsight is 20/20, but I now know that my children would not have suffered if I had just worked harder to put a priority on babysitters and my marriage. I am lucky to have a husband who is forever loving and patient and is happy that I eventually turned my attentions back to him!! I just loved being a "Mommy" so much and it was my comfort zone and something I felt I was good at.

Now that they're teens or soon to be, all sense of "control" is gone and I am learning to let go and enjoy my adult relationships more.

-Audrey Greenwood, mom of 3

A: SLEEP! It is amazing how little sleep a new mother gets and no matter how many things on your to-do list, everything is better when you are rested. Take the time to sleep.

TIME! It does go fast- enjoy, enjoy enjoy. Try not to wish away the stage your child is in..sooner than you think you will be wishing it back. Every stage has its good and bad moments- (ie- two-year olds, so adorable, yet so ornery).

HELP! Take help when it is offered. Accepting help does not mean you are not a good mom. We all need help sometimes, it can actually make you a better Mom by reducing your stress level. 

PERFECTION! It doesn't exist, so don't worry endlessly about every little parenting decision being perfect. Love your kids, do the best you can, regroup and apologize when necessary.

- Teri Harrison, mom of 4

A: Listen to your gut and follow your instinct. there is not a book or a piece of advice that will be perfect for your child, your family, your marriage, your world. Everyone came at me with all kinds of opinions. I read a million books while I was on bedrest the 5 months before my first son was born. As soon as he was born, it all went out the window. I followed my gut, received a lot of grief about what I did or did not do, and life went on. My oldest is almost 11 now and I have no regrets of how I was when he was an infant. If you follow your instinct, you will be a great mom.

-Tammy Bester, mom of 3