New Baby: How To Give Your Nesting Instincts An Extra Edge

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“I’m pregnant!” The euphoria of these words is quickly interrupted by the realization of everything that needs to happen before the baby arrives. The to-do list that floods your mind is called nesting. The lists range from getting hand sanitizer in all areas of your house, to buying an actual house to accommodate children. As if all of that is not overwhelming enough, the usual to-do list is still in play: working, cleaning, cooking, shopping, etc. You want to nest, but you are just too busy.

Seek Help

Whether you are a first-time parent, or an experienced nose-wiper, for the sake of your sanity accept help. Nobody offering? Hire help for tedious clean-up, house cleaning in Chicago and renovations. Supermom down the street can make herself crazy doing everything by herself while you are giddily deciding where to hang that alphabet poster. The occasional housekeeper or McMaid service may not cost as much as you would expect.

Cook Like You are Eating for Ten

It is one thing if you enjoy milling around a kitchen in oven mitts, and quite another if you feel frustrated because dinnertime interrupted by the construction of a changing table. You could order out, or you could spend a couple hours once or twice per week preparing dinners. Take twenty minutes to eat, and head back to your more fulfilling tasks. Making your own freezer meals will come in real handy and it can be done monthly.

Bring it Down a Notch or Several

You are creating a human. Why do you feel like you have to be Picasso, too? It is not unlikely the little angel you give birth to is going to want to paint his or her room an aesthetically offensive color in thirteen years. Let them do all that work. Consider wall decals over painting. They are less toxic, way faster, easily removed, and inexpensive. Think of what has you stressed, and ask yourself if there is a way to simplify.

Get Excited Again

Worrying over details can really dampen your attitude and enthusiasm about the pregnancy. It can wear on you so much that you would just rather do nothing. Perhaps you spend a half hour at a time petting your favorite baby clothes. That’s fun, but it is not productive. One of the best ways to renew excitement is to put up the crib. It provides a burst of reality and can be very inspirational in achieving more mundane tasks. Get excited by getting out the baby stuff and doing your own nesting.

Welcoming a new baby is a thrilling time of life. Do not let the nesting instincts overwhelm your enthusiasm. Steal away for a few minutes to dance around thinking, “I’m pregnant!”