REAL LIFE

Easily Fooled

By Shanna, age 18, California
Sweet Designs Featured Writer



Featured Gold Star Writer Bio

A lot of the hype that comes with motherhood is pretty overrated, if you ask me - everything from the pain to the sleepless nights you are constantly told about. Well, let me tell you firsthand - don't be fooled into believing what you are told to think. My first month with a newborn has been nothing like I expected; it's actually been a lot less stressful. Of course, you give up a lot of free time, but who wouldn't for their child? Even with that being said, I don't recommend motherhood to anyone who does not have the money, resources, support, and patience to care for someone else.

My daughter came home to an empty house and an overjoyed 11 year old aunt who didn't want to do anything but sit in her face and help out all day. I guess this is a pretty exciting time for a kid and a first time aunt. Honestly, this first night I expected the worst - I expected to be up all night yawning and constantly feeding and rocking my baby, hoping these attempts would help her sleep. Kind of like what you see on TV shows and whatnot, but surprisingly it was nothing like this. Erin only cried when she was wet, hungry, or bored, which didn't really bother me since I'm a night owl and up most nights until four the next morning.

Since the hospital had kept me for two days, I'd gotten all the rest I needed and was too excited to come home to my cable and my cushy bed. (lol) Erin was rather quiet; she just lazed around in her crib while I read. She would cry at times because she'd rather be held. Some days I got bored and would wake her up because I had nothing to do, with my fiancé catching up on sleep since he has class and works most days. My house was deathly quiet. Occasionally I woke up to her screaming her head off, but she's easily comforted and I was able to fall back asleep.

Besides spending time with her when I can, I find myself bored from time to time, and Facebooking only entertains you for so long. Even being bored, my visitors made my first month no easier. I would find myself nodding off to sleep whenever someone wasn't in my home chilling for hours at a time. The attention is great, but it kind of bugs you when you find that your private time is spent with numerous relatives who fawn over your child. As a new addition to my family and 5th generation addition to my fiancé's family, advice is being thrown at me from every angle.

Once again, I do not recommend children if you don't have the support of your loved ones or the resources. Having my daughter has sent me on disability, but thank God for supportive men and savings. Honestly, I could not imagine having a child before this time when I am an independent young adult. I tend to think back to when I was in middle school and high school, and with time management and extracurriculars, this would have been impossible. Children are blessings and will continue to be, but make sure you are ready for whatever the world throws at you. Just don't be fooled because everything that glitters isn't gold!



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February & March Magazine Issues

March 15, 2012

The February and March issues of Sweet Designs Magazine are now online, featuring a combined 53 new articles and features!!

- Cover: Stephanie Lynn reflects on 5 years
- Cover: India (of Darn-licious knitwear)
- Life in the dumps (moving in with my bf)
- The difference between men and women
- Angels among us (parts 1 and 2)
- Arts graduates & the dark night of the soul
- Triple threat (how I survived my teen yrs)
- Dating isn't easy (my true story)
- How to turn not-so-great gifts ... (fashion)
- Ten reasons to love being single
- Taking the big leap (college)
- Valentine's Day (not what you'd expect!)
- The last of the cold (hopefully) (fashion)
- A month full of love
- Ten tips for successful airline travel
- Reasons I love writing for SDM
- Who needs love?
- They're not all the same
- The life I'm glad I don't have (fiction)
- Professional dress/ finding Fendi (fashion)
- An airport anniversary: a true story
- Inappropriate Facebook photos
- The perks of a big city (college)
- A night(mare) to forget (part 2)
- The Anita Blake series (book review)
- Saving June by Hannah Harrington (book)
- Under the Mesquite by GG McCall (book)
- The Lullaby by Sarah Dessen (book)
- If I Stay by Gayle Foreman (book review)
- My sweetheart (original poetry)
- Isn't it funny (original poetry)
- The stranger (original poetry)
- A winter wonderland (original poetry)
- One night valentine
- The thick envelopes (college acceptance)
- Southern love
- Healthy hair and vitamins
- It's a date (dating idea alternatives)
- The 30 hour famine
- School's out forever!
- Marching right back into spring? (fashion)
- Dear John
- When TV shows depict your life
- 3 Fun ways to rock spring's hottest trends
- Neglected teeth
- Starting something new
- Guy movies
- To hesitate or dive in?
- Deadly, by Julie Chibbaro (book review)
- Beastly, by Alex Flinn (book review)
- I don't care (poetry)
- Together, alone (poetry)

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