Having a baby can change your life in Wonderful ways.
But Some people struggle because they feel they have lost their identity as an individual which has been replaced by their identity as parents.
Our sense of identity comes from the choices we make about things like careers, hobbies, and lifestyles. When you have a baby these choices can change this.
This does not mean that you’re no longer in control of who you are. But you are responsible for someone else – someone else whose needs come first and this can change your priorities, your values, and sometimes your sense of self.
New parents can sometimes feel they have lost their financial independence, time for self-care, social life, time for hobbies, etc. Even if you were aware of the changes that a new baby may bring this shift into a new identity as a parent can still take you by surprise.
After having a baby, it may feel for a while that parenting is all you do and all you must talk about. But you probably won’t always feel this way.
Try to give yourself time – for now, everything is all about your baby and their needs but as they grow they will become more independent and it will be easier for you to find time for yourself.
