I´m a great-aunt!

Mar, the first great-niece in our family, was born earlier this week, and today we´ve been lucky enough to see her via videoconference. She´s a gorgeous baby, with a lovely name ("mar" means "sea" in Spanish). Welcome!

(Photo of the sea, of course. Or rather, the ocean, at Monterey beach, in California)

Seeing Mar today and talking to her parents and grandparents reminded me of my own first few days as a novice mother, when Irene was a newborn. That was... almost twenty years ago! OMG. Some of you may remember reading my adventures and misadventures as a new mum in a predecessor to this blog.

Then, two years later, after a little sibling who was never born, Alicia arrived, and five years later, Eva, who´s been the youngest on our side of the family until now. The experience was different with each of them; even the deliveries were different (although the three of them were born in the same hospital, and on the same day of the week!)

But all three of them, each one in her own style, brought us lots of love and joy, and also lots of learning. Each baby is unique, irreplaceable, and the family changes and adapts to each new member as they arrive.

To be honest, I think this is a beautiful season in life, becoming a mum or a dad (especially, I have to say, a mum), but it also tends to be a somewhat complicated time, as emotions bubble to the surface. There´s a lot of joy, of course, but also fears, confusion, tiredness... A true emotional rollercoaster, and it gets you no matter what, even if you try to prepare.

So now it´s the time to exercise patience, lots and lots of it. With the new baby, of course, who has no concept of timetables or social norms, having just arrived in this world. But also the new parents with themselves, with each other, and probably with other people as well (namely, family and friends).

I was looking for a nice quote I could use to congratulate the new parents, and I remembered this phrase/advice; I´m not sure where it comes from (apologies if it has an author and I haven´t been able to find it), but I think it´s very appropriate: Ana and Javi, congratulations!! Enjoy every moment, every phase, for the days are long, but the years are short.

I´m speaking from experience: one day you´re changing nappies, and the following day, the girl is having a sleepover with her friends, or looking for a job to get some extra money, or studying for her driving license...

What about you? Do you have children, nephews/nieces or grandchildren? What advice would you give to new parents?