1 - The happiest day of your life... or not!

"The day he was born was so wonderful..." That's true for some parents, but not for all. And that's okay! You have a whole lifetime to spend with your child. Don't put pressure on yourself.

2 - A more or less obvious connection

The bond between a newborn and its parents is magical, but not necessarily immediate. Don't blame yourself! You have nothing to blame yourself for. Take the time you need to accept this new role and get to know this little being, who for the moment is still an unknown. Indulgence and patience will be your best allies.

3 - Tick tock... time flies

Ah, all those pre-baby times when we said, "I don't have time!" How dare we! Now we have the right, time flies even faster. The proof: our baby is growing so fast that sometimes we'd like to press pause.

4 - Letting go

Children have their own agenda and don't always listen to your own grown-up obligations. The schedule rarely goes according to plan! We have to admit that, thanks to them, we learn to adapt and accept that we can't control everything.

5 - A lesson a day

You'll be amazed at how wise and open-minded children are. They impress us with their innocence, their curiosity, their unfailing lightness and their wonder at simple things. They're a breath of fresh air and a daily inspiration.

@blakealexiss
@simplicite_ici by @oliver.fritze for @milk_magazine

6 - Strength and new life

You may be apprehensive about life as a parent and all that it entails: childbirth, post-partum, fatigue, education, going back to work... It's normal. But you'll soon realize that both body and mind have the ability to overcome obstacles and transform them into energy. In fact, it's not uncommon for motherhood to reveal, for example, the soul of a self-entrepreneur, or to inspire new life projects that previously seemed unthinkable.

7 - Intense fatigue

While you'd give anything to get an 8-hour night's sleep, your child isn't having any of it. Fatigue can quickly become your worst enemy! It prevents you from taking a step back and often deprives you of clear-sightedness. The best thing to do, if you can, is to sleep when your baby sleeps... or to pass the baton for a little nap for yourself. Take heart. 

8 - You'll be eager to get back to work

If you're apprehensive about returning to work, you'll find that it's actually beneficial. Returning to a structure, a framework, colleagues and other tasks can often do you a world of good. And the reunion with baby will be all the better for it! Of course, some parents go back to work with a heavy heart, and once again, nothing goes wrong. To each his own, and to each his own. 

9 - Silence in the house, nonsense on the horizon!

If the house seems quiet, at first it's pleasant... then suspicious. No cries, noises from toys or small steps are often synonymous with mischief. Keep your eyes and ears open...

10 - Stop comparing

The birth of a first child brings with it a flood of congratulations, joy... and unsolicited advice. Often benevolent, but above all intrusive, filter what you're told. Those around you tend to overlook the fact that every baby is unique, and that there is no one way of doing things. Guilt and comparison are useless, especially in the age of social networking. Don't forget that it's easy to film your pretty KUMI crib and hide the mess in the background.

In the end, if there's one thing to remember, it's that parenthood inevitably pushes you to question yourself, to discover new things, to surpass yourself. It's a unique, exhilarating and tiring adventure. An unconditional love that can't be taught, but that will teach you a lot about yourself!