Story from Lizzy Naikara
Whoever said parenting is not for the faint-hearted was right. Mine has been a journey with its highs and lows.
To be frank, I wasn’t ready when I got pregnant with my first daughter, who is now seven. I was only 19 and hadn’t figured out my life. In fact, I discovered I was pregnant when I was already four months with her. My boyfriend was at university, and I was in college. The news hit us like a heart attack, and we had to adjust immediately and “adult” up.
My first instinct was to get a few side hustles and move to a sizable apartment where I could raise my now-to-be firstborn. It was tough, but we made it, and that’s where our freelance journey began. I’m a full-time work-from-home mum of two. At 19, no one had prepared me for my motherhood journey, and most of my friends were just like me. I had to discover this journey through trial and error.
First, I had a tough time understanding my new body and hormonal changes. I had bizarre cravings for foods that I’d never had before. I thank God my boyfriend understood me and took the better part of my madness. I would wake him up in the middle of the night to get me a pork beef which I’d throw away as soon as I tasted it. I’d also have mood swings from hell and would cry for no apparent reason. Months passed, and my daughter was born normally and safely. The moment I held her in my arms, I knew I would give her the best and become the best mum in the world. I’d work when she went to sleep and bought her all the fancy dresses and toys. She was the tiny me and has turned out to be one of the best sisters ever. My second-born daughter, now three, was a bit easier. I’d already learned all the nitty-gritty details of how to care for a newborn. I knew what every sound meant when she had a fever and everything in between. However, motherhood is a full-time job and journey.
As they grow up, they change, and you have to understand their feelings, tantrums, wants, demands, education, feelings, etc. I’ve made them my friends, and we relate super well though there are times I feel I need a week’s vacation.
My hubby is supportive, and we raise them equally, though you must understand that mums do the most, right? Now, they believe that their parents are millionaires and everything they watch on those “Cocomelon” YouTube videos must be bought. Yes, we try, but as a parent, you understand that our little ones make us work harder and become the best versions of ourselves. I miss the days I’d go to the mall and buy the most oversized bottles of wines and chocolates. Now, the first thing that comes to mind is their cravings, toys, and clothes, but I love it. Parenthood is fun, and I wouldn’t want it another way.