Photography: Laurens Eggen
Marit Haegens-Brugman (32) is married to Dylan and mother of Nami (5 months).
I was a better mother before I was a mother. Yes, you read that correctly. Before I had children, I knew exactly how I was going to handle it. I started breastfeeding my daughter, which I thought was just a matter of persevering. I wouldn’t let her sleep between us and I was prepared for a future with cloth diapers.
Not according to plan
Ha! Now that I’m a mother I know better. I tried breastfeeding, but due to various circumstances it was not possible. It turned out to be very nice to let Nami sleep between us during the maternity week. And those washable diapers? They never came. Now I’m fortunate that my husband is subscribed to the diaper newsletter, which allows us to stock up on disposable varieties cheaply. We have become truly civil.
And that pastel baby gym that fitted so nicely into our beige Japandi interior is gathering dust. I can still hear myself saying it during my pregnancy: we don’t get those ugly colorful plastic toys! Our house is now starting to look more and more like an indoor play paradise, including brightly colored plastic play mats and irritating music.
Also read – ‘Little babies sleep most of the day, they said’ >
Art of letting go
Motherhood has proven to be the greatest lesson in the art of letting go from day one. Letting go of a parenting plan that you had in mind, a daily schedule that runs smoothly or a house that is completely organised.
“My pitfall becomes just a stumbling block”
Before Nami was born, I was a control freak. This came in handy in my work as an entrepreneur, I liked to be in control. Yet it was also my biggest pitfall. My daughter helps me turn my pitfall into just a stumbling block. It puts things into perspective. I’ll send that one email tomorrow. That visit to my parents will be an hour later. And that bright green rattle on the couch is very Japandi in a way.
Would you like to read more beautiful and recognizable stories from fellow mothers? Subscribe now and receive Kek Mama first on your doorstep every month.