A Mother’s Greatest Critic? Herself

I have written a post before where I suggested that a Mother’s greatest critic is other mother’s. I am not saying I totally retract that post but, at the moment, I am seriously thinking that a mother’s greatest critic, is actually themselves, well, me to be precise.

You see, I thought as a parent second time around, I would have more confidence. I am more relaxed but when it comes to Beb’s care I doubt myself ALL. THE. TIME.

I went shopping last week and, while waiting to change Beb’s dirty nappy in a queue for the baby change, I remarked to the woman next to me; ‘Oh no, what should I do now?’

She said to leave him and he would wake up if he was uncomfortable and then asked me if he was my first baby. In a moment of embarrassment, I lied and said he was. What on earth is wrong with me?

For weeks now, Beb has been dribbling up a storm. His cheeks have been red on a few occasions and I told my mum a good four weeks ago that I thought he might be teething. ‘Surely not at his age,’ she said and to be honest, at that point, as always, I doubted myself.

The dribbling and red cheeks has now been joined by hand eating and, the other day I looked into his little mouth (why I didn’t do this before, I have no idea) and low and behold, there are two little white mounds on his bottom gum. I was right after all.

He had a rash from Hubster’s stubble and I rang the doctors-even though I knew why the rash was there-what if it was something more sinister?

I cried at the weighing clinic because the health visitor (uncharacteristically for one of them) said I was doing a great job.

Why can’t I believe in myself? In moments of clarity, I admit that I managed to bring Boo up to be four years old and I am always ready to hand out advice to other mothers who ask for it so why can’t I take it myself?

I think the moral of the story is to remember the age-old adage that mum knows best. Don’t doubt yourself.

What do you think? (See, I can’t help myself).