by Arlene Hauben

Created on: June 19, 2009

Becoming a mother for the first time is an awesome experience. You and your husband, or partner, have created a new life, an infant that will gradually grow and develop into a unique person with abilities and personality that is one of a kind. But nurturing and raising a baby takes a great deal of work and effort, much of which can get somewhat tedious and boring.

New mothers can easily feel overwhelmed by the physical and repetitive tasks required to care for the new baby. Your reality becomes feeding the baby, changing diapers, soothing baby to sleep, doing laundry, and the list goes on. The routine is endless, but remember this: being a new mother is only a temporary period in your life. It is a special time, and though, it might be boring, it will end. So how do we cherish this time and still cope with the boredom?

First of all, don't be too hard on yourself. No mother can be perfect and do everything thing right. The important ingredient is love and care. Every new mother has questions about breastfeeding or bottle feeding, playing with baby, talking to baby, and helping baby sleep. There are many websites and groups that offer answers and support.

Now about the bored Mommy syndrome, let's start by saying that you are a person with your own needs and wants. When you become a mother, you are not obligated to sacrifice your interests, your work, or your leisure moments. Once a routine is in place, you should start to look for activities that include other mothers with babies. This will be a vital source of support and help you make new friends that can last a lifetime. Here are some tips to follow:

Finding a Mommies Group - call the local Y, church, or synagogue if you are not sure about where a group meets. Look online for New Mommy Groups in your local area. If you live in a city in an apartment building, you are lucky. You will be able to meet neighbors with babies, and in the suburbs, you can join groups through community centers.

Parks - wherever you live, there is a Parks and Recreation Department. Usually they offer groups for new mothers, including a Mommy and Me or Take a Walk with Mommy. Again, look online for the parks website.

Career and work - carve out some time for your work, when you are ready to tackle a job at home. This will keep you in the loop and make you feel like a whole person. If you do not have a career, there are private consultant opportunities that allow you to sell products person to person, such as Avon, Mary Kay Cosmetics, or Herbalife. Such a pursuit for stay-at-home mothers can build a network of customers and friends.

Social Night - make time for your husband or a friend. Enlist the help of a relative or qualified babysitter once a week so you can go out to a restaurant or movie.

Love and care for your baby, but remember that if you have to take care of yourself too, both physically and emotionally. Positive feelings will come across to your baby and provide a more nurturing and solid foundation for healthy development.

For support online, here are some cool websites and blogs where you can connect with other mothers: www.cafemom.com; www.rookiemoms.com; www.coolmompicks.com; and www.singlemom.com.

There are a thousand ways to cope with the boredom. Be creative and believe in yourself.

Learn more about this author, Arlene Hauben.
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