The Mama Bear instinct (or attitude) is the most bizarre thing I have found in becoming a mother. All of the mothers who read this blog understand what I am talking about. It is the most natural force you will ever feel in your entire life. Every other opinion you have prior to making a decision you go back and forth on. Will that be a selfish decision? Am I making the right decision? Is that the best decision for me/my spouse/my friend/etc? Not Mama Bear. That instict is what drives all of the major decisions you make for your little one and it is the strongest force inside of you. There is nothing (and I mean NOTHING) that can stop it.
Being a mom doesn't mean you won't have tough decisions to make. And sometimes you will stop and ask yourself those same questions. However, there is no fight or flight when it comes to being a mom. When you reach a crossroads where you dont' know where to turn, your Mama Bear comes out and the decision has already been made. You know what is best for your child. You're the Mama Bear. You can't help it. It's pretty awesome.
When I was pregnant with M.D. I was like a lost puppy. Some women talk about pregnancy they talk about how they already "know" their child. They already have the Mama Bear rushing through their blood. I had a little bit of that. I had no idea what was coming.
Being a mom doesn't mean you won't have tough decisions to make. And sometimes you will stop and ask yourself those same questions. However, there is no fight or flight when it comes to being a mom. When you reach a crossroads where you dont' know where to turn, your Mama Bear comes out and the decision has already been made. You know what is best for your child. You're the Mama Bear. You can't help it. It's pretty awesome.
When I was pregnant with M.D. I was like a lost puppy. Some women talk about pregnancy they talk about how they already "know" their child. They already have the Mama Bear rushing through their blood. I had a little bit of that. I had no idea what was coming.
This pictures captures the precise moment when the Mama Bear instinct hit me like a ton of bricks. That was my child. My #1 job for the rest of my life was set. To protect this child. To make decisions that would benefit this child. The End. Done.
P.S. My stomach was WIDE open at this point. I had no idea. Kind of a sick thought though. Modern medicine is so bizarre.
P.S. My stomach was WIDE open at this point. I had no idea. Kind of a sick thought though. Modern medicine is so bizarre.
I remember right after baby M.D. was born. I held him (obvious from the picture) and then there's kind of this blur. I remember being taken to the recovery room which was right next to the operating room. I remember lots of nurses. I remember looking around at all of the machines. I remember thinking Where's my baby? My baby was not in the recovery room. I lost my mind. I have never sobbed so hard in my life. Thank GOD for anesthesia. I had a gaping wound in my abdominal cavity and I was sobbing. Not a good combination...unless you're physically numb. I remember looking at every nurse individually and asking Where Is My Baby?! I probably didn't ask...I probably demanded. I don't remember my tone. Forgive me. My baby was just fine. He was with Steven. He was only NOT in the room for about 2 minutes. They had to wheel me in first. Steven & M.D. were to follow. I'm sure they covered that ahead of time. It didn't matter. From that moment on my baby needed to be with me. I remember Steven walking into the room pushing M.D.'s little bassinet cart. Biggest smile on his face. Proud Papa Bear. He looked at me. Tears streaming down my face. Oxygen hooked up through my nose. Hair disheveled. He asked the nurse Is she OK? Best husband ever. I just needed my baby.
Speaking of Steven, he has the Papa Bear instinct as well. A less-recognized but equally important instinct. Everything we do in life now is decided knowing that what is best for M.D. comes first. No questions asked. It doesn't matter if it's not what we WANT to do at that moment. It doesn't matter if it is what is most CONVENIENT to do. It doesn't even matter if it is the decision that will be best for those around us. It matters what is best for M.D. The End. There is definitely a comfort in that. There is nothing better than making a decision and feeling 110% confident in that decision. It's rare in life
Speaking of Steven, he has the Papa Bear instinct as well. A less-recognized but equally important instinct. Everything we do in life now is decided knowing that what is best for M.D. comes first. No questions asked. It doesn't matter if it's not what we WANT to do at that moment. It doesn't matter if it is what is most CONVENIENT to do. It doesn't even matter if it is the decision that will be best for those around us. It matters what is best for M.D. The End. There is definitely a comfort in that. There is nothing better than making a decision and feeling 110% confident in that decision. It's rare in life