Being a parent can be a life-changing experience. It brings with it joy, challenges, and everything else in between. You’re probably a new parent who is navigating through a whirlwind of emotions and an endless to-do list while trying to understand your new role. You may feel overwhelmed at times, but you’re not the only one.
A heartfelt letter for new parents is meant to remind you that it’s okay to feel unsure and that you are doing an amazing job.
This post is intended to provide some encouragement, practical tips, and a gentle reminder that nobody expects perfection, only love and patience, as you embark on your beautiful journey.
The UK maternity hospital has shared an open letter that parents and mums should print, post on their fridge, and read in tough times.
It gets better
This missive is not only a summary of the joys and challenges of new parenting, but it also offers practical advice for how to cope with those darker days and, most importantly, how to see life through the eyes of a baby.
These common sense and compassionate reminders on how to move forward may offer some relief for tired or worried parents.
Open letter for parents
Dear Mummy and Daddy,
Please keep this letter from me in a place where you can read it and re-read it when things are rough and you are feeling down.
Please don’t expect too much from me as a newborn baby or too much from yourselves as parents. Give us both six weeks as a birthday present—six weeks for me to grow, develop, mature, and become more stable and predictable—six weeks for you to rest and relax and allow your body to get back to normal.
Please feed me when I am hungry. I never knew hunger was in your womb, and clocks and time mean little to me.
Please hold, cuddle, kiss, touch, stroke, and croon to me. I was always held closely in your womb and have never been alone before.
Please forgive me if I cry a lot. I am not a tyrant who was sent to make your life miserable; the only way I can tell you I am not happy is with my cry. Bear with me, and in a short time, as I mature, I will spend less time crying and more time socialising.
Please take the time to find out who I am, how I differ from you, and how much I can bring to you. Watch me carefully, and I’ll tell you things that soothe console, and please me.
Please remember that I am resilient and can withstand the many natural mistakes you’ll make with me. As long as you make them with love, I cannot be harmed.
Please don’t be disappointed when I am not the perfect baby you expected, nor be disappointed with yourselves when you are not the perfect parents.
Please take care of yourself; eat a balanced diet, rest, and exercise so that when we are together, you have the patience and energy to take care of me. The cure for a fussy baby is more rest for Mum.
Please take care of your relationship with each other. What good is family bonding if there is no family left for me to bond with?
Keep the “big picture” in mind. I’ll be like this for a very short time, though it seems like forever to you now. Although I may have turned your life upside down, please remind yourselves that things will be back to normal before long.
Enjoy me—I’ll never be this little again!
Lovely and so true
This letter went viral overnight as parents, especially the more experienced ones, responded emotionally.
This is beautiful and true. It’s a pity there isn’t enough money to give this to each new mother in the hospital after her baby is born. “It would have helped me greatly after my first baby arrived,” one mother posted.
You only realise the truth when your child is no longer so dependent. Another parent wrote, “It’s a lovely letter.”
As a grandmother, great-grandmother, and mother, this is sound advice. A parenting expert commented, I wish I had received this letter 45 years ago when I gave birth to my first child.
Accepting The Unknown
Your journey has just begun. You will grow, learn, and cry during your parenting journey. Your heart will also expand more than you thought possible. We are writing you a letter today, all of the new parents!
You may already know that there are many unknowns in parenting, particularly in the first year. When you think you’ve got something figured out, it will change. This is okay. Try to trust the process and treat every day as a brand-new one. Be flexible with yourself, your partner, and your child, and embrace the unknown!
Let’s all put our faith in the Father who created our children. The fact that you were given this responsibility is a testament to the faith your Father in Heaven places in you. His tender mercies will be there for us at the right time. We are given the chance to witness miracles every day through our children. We should always treasure this new role because it’s noble and vital to His plan. We must remember, when the nights are long and we are tired and discouraged by the world around us, that the Lord knows all. Let’s rely on him.
Let us be grateful for our children, who are our little teachers, and help us to have a master’s degree of Christ-like qualities. As long as we maintain faith, this new journey will be wonderful, despite all the tears, fears, and inadequacies.
Tough gig
This letter serves as a reminder to parents that although parenting is often a difficult job, adapting to changes becomes easier with time. You are not alone, and that is important!
In a world where we are more technologically connected than ever but have an escalating rate of anxiety and postnatal depression in both mums and dads, it is equally vital to remember that reaching out for help when things feel impossible and terrible is essential.
It is not always possible to “suck up” everything. Sometimes, getting expert help is the best option.
