Ivana Poku As a new mum, you’ve probably found yourself wondering: Will the toddler stage be easier than the baby stage?
Or maybe the bigger question is: Does this ever get easier?
And often, you’ll hear the answer: No!
While it might be said in jest, this is no doubt the worst response you can get.
I get it – it’s meant to be funny.
But I think those who say that have already forgotten how challenging those first weeks and months of motherhood are.
Why the Newborn Stage Feels So Overwhelming
As a new mum, you’re navigating so MUCH, both emotionally and physically.
Your body is going through a massive shock, and it takes time to adjust to it.
And it is this shock to the system and to the lifestyle that makes nthe ewborn stage the hardest.
Even if you have the most relaxed baby in the world, the adjustment period is hard.
I most cases, nothing compares to the intensity of the early days of a baby stage.
When I became a mum, I couldn’t understand how other mothers could say it was “all worth it.” I used to think, What could possibly be worth this kind of torture?
But now, I completely get it.
Let me explain.
Becoming a mother is a massive shock to both your mind and body.
One day, your life is one way, and the next, you’re holding a tiny, crying baby who is completely dependent on you. It can feel like someone locked you in a room with an elephant and tossed away the key.
How Motherhood Begins to Shift
But as your baby grows, something magical happens.
Your maternal love deepens, your baby starts to progress, and as you bond with them — especially when you get that first genuine smile — everything starts to shift.
Before having children, I thought my priorities would immediately change the moment I laid eyes on my baby.
But that’s not quite how it works.
Your priorities evolve slowly, growing alongside the love you feel for your child.
By the time your little one is a toddler, you won’t be able to imagine your life without them.
The reason you can’t fully grasp that in those early weeks is that, as a new mum, you have very little foundation to build on.
But as time passes and you peel back the layers of motherhood, you start to build a strong foundation for a brand new, beautiful life.
Personally, the first few weeks and months of motherhood were the hardest time of my life.
And I know I’m not the only one.
Now, as I write this, my boys are two years old and my feelings have changed dramatically.
It’s not because they don’t challenge me anymore but because my perception has changed.
My love for them has grown and settled; we’ve bonded, created more memories, laughed together, and they are teaching me so much about myself and life every single day.
(And, thank goodness!!, they now sleep through the night lol.)
Motherhood isn’t about losing yourself in your new circumstances.
Rather, your love and bond with your children add to what you already have, rather than replacing it.
Yes, it’s harder in many ways.
My boys are heavier, stronger, and much more demanding than they were as babies.
It’s harder to watch them. It’s harder to change their nappies. It’s harder to keep them still. It’s harder to get out of the house. It’s harder to get them dressed.
Yet, despite all of that, it’s so much easier.
Trust me — once the initial overwhelming feelings of being a new mum settle (and they will!), you’ll feel like you can handle anything.
Think back to when you were in love.
It felt like nothing was impossible.
Well, being a mum — once you’ve fully adapted to the new rhythm of life — feels just like that.
Is the toddler stage easier?
So, if someone asks me whether things get easier as they grow up, I now confidently say: Yes!
Even though my kids still drive me crazy sometimes, I’m happier than I’ve ever been.
That’s something I could never have said during their baby days!
So, what do you think?
Does this make sense?
Come and join the conversation!
Leave a comment below or drop me a DM on Instagram! 🙂
With love,
Ivana xx
