Why Motherhood is so Challenging

This blog is dedicated to the NEW MOMS out there.  It is my desire to give you permission to cry and complain a little about how difficult and exhausting motherhood is - but also to know that these excrutiating first few days/months are created for a reason: To bond with your baby.  To strengthen your own self-knowledge and worth.  To fortify your character.

I've been meaning to write this post for quite some time.  I'm not sure why I've taken it upon myself to write these things - it most likely does not portray myself in the right social light - however, I think it is important to tell MY truth.  In my over-sharing and painful honesty, I can only hope to allow other mom's to stop being so hard on themselves, especially at the beginning of their Mom-Journey.

Motherhood is a rite of passage.  An adventure.  A chance at soul-enrichment.

The moment you bring your first baby into the World, you are immediately inducted into a Sorority of Mothers: regardless of race, background, religious affiliation, social-economic wealth, etc.  You are a Mom, Mama, Mum, Madre.

Sometimes your preconceived notions of what being a Mom entails are warped by the media, TV sitcoms, and even your own Mother's recollection of her storied, perfect, Norman Rockwell-like child-rearing days.

Have you stopped to congratulate yourself?  You housed and grew a baby from two tiny cells for the last 10 months.  And then you survived (maybe even relished) birthing the baby.  You may be a little tired from this endeavor.  But it doesn't stop here!  No way.  Now all of those fabulous life-supporting hormones begin to depart and other lovely ones ramp up so that you can continue to grow and nurture your baby - just outside of your body.  Now you have to conscientiously make an effort at growing and caring for this baby.  Now you are in control.  Ha! Not Really.

Did you know that it is scientifically proven that sleep deprivation is equal to legal-drunkeness?  There is a law against Drinking and Driving.  What about Sleep-Deprivation and Motherhood?  It definitely impairs your judgment.

A low point in Week 2 of Baby #1

Scene:

Un-showered for 4 days, Mom is holding screaming baby.  Mom is leaning against wall for support.  Holding phone.  Speed-Dialing Husband.

Conversation:

Dad - is everything OK?  Mom - sob.  Baby - wailing.
Dad - do you need me to come home?  Mom - sob.  Baby - wailing.

Phone disconnects.

End of Scene.

In my 20/20 hindsight, I implore you to try as hard as you can to commit those 8am, 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm, 11pm, 2am, 5am feeding/burping/toe-curling/snuggling sessions into your Memory.  It is during these times of physical and mental exhaustion - where we are somehow able to trudge onward because a life depends on it - that we encounter our Inner Strength.  I've always been a Strong Woman.  Because of this experience of Motherhood, I am Sheena - Queen of the Jungle.

It is in this first experience that you and your baby bond.  When you pull through a tough time together, you cement your relationship.  Together you learn to trust and love.  And grow.

Stop being so hard on yourself.  Ask for help.  Take care of yourself.

When somebody tells me that their baby is sick, I ask how the Mom is coping?  I rarely worry about the baby because Mom will escape quicksand to tend to her young.  Even at her own peril.

You need to ACCEPT this current role and know that every step of child-rearing comes in stages: as soon as you think that you can't go on another day, it changes.  As soon as you think that you are the best parent in the World and that your child is an Angel, it changes.  These episodes usually occur in 3 month cycles.

When you are enjoying a good stage, pat yourself on the back and enjoy it.  Quickly commit these moments to memory and flash back to them in times of trouble and doubt.

When you are in a bad stage, remind yourself that THIS TOO SHALL PASS.

Know that you will NEVER be challenged with more than you can handle.  But you will be tested and stretched to the point of breaking.

After all, this is what Motherhood is about.

Embrace it.  Endure it.  Grow.

Yours in Motherhood,

Angela Powell
Chief Bum
www.bumritediapers.com

BumRite Birth to Potty Training Cloth Diaper Package

So many people email or phone us with questions about cloth diapers: they want to do it, but are overwhelmed by the options.

I point them to the BumRite Birth to Potty Training Package that we assembled to make it easy to visually see and read WHY we chose the items that we did.


We advise people to take a look at the package and read the descriptions below.  Now they have a foundation on which to build their own stash, or simply choose colors and click, 'Add to Cart'.


Below is the BumRite Birth to Potty Training Package description.
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BumRite Birth to Potty Training Package includes:
 

• GroVia LIVE IT Package-
• 12 GroVia shells
• 24 GroVia soakers
• 2 2-packs of GroVia Cotton Boosters
• 24 GroVia Cotton Wipes
• OPTIONAL bumGenius Diaper Sprayer
• 1 Magic Stick, BioSoakers, BioLiners
• 3 FuzziBunz One Size Pocket Diapers
• 3 infant microfiber inserts
• 3 toddler microfiber inserts
• 2-2pack JoeyBunz hemp doublers
• 2 Planet Wise Diaper Pail Liners
• 1 Natural Baby Company Tote

We put these products together for the parents that want a simple, complete, top-quality package that will take them from birth to potty training and that includes all of the necessary accessories that will make your cloth diapering experience a breeze.

Why did we put these items together?  We like organic cotton next to our baby's most sensitive parts.  During the Day.  We like the stay-dry comfort and adjustable absorbency ability of a pocket diaper for nights.

Here is what is included in this package - and why we chose it:

GroVia LIVE package
12 versatile one size diaper covers (can use with most fitted and prefold diapers, as well)
24 snap in soakers



If you plan to cloth diaper from 8+ pounds on, you need enough shells to keep in rotation 1) for mitigating laundry chores 2) longevity. 

These will be your most washed, most used natural fiber organic cotton GARMENT (remember this) in the next 3 years.  Each soaker has been commercially wash-tested to last 200+ washes.  24 soakers will get you 4,800 diaper changes.  You may need to add a few packs of extra GroVia soakers later on - but it is always nice to get new fluff.  Keep it in mind, but don't worry about it now.

Newborn poo is runny.  GroVia will hold it in, but it may get on the shell.  That is why we put so many shells in this package: longevity and runny-poopy-ness.  Expect to go through at least 6-8 shells in one day in the beginning.

We also chose the GroVia diaper b.c it also allows you to choose between using the organic cotton soakers OR an earth-friendly/baby-friendly disposable.  Super convenient when needed.



GroVia Boosters 2 2-packs (4 total)

GroVia Boosters are made of 3 layers of thirsty Certified Organic Cotton!  Perfect for naps, nights, or long car rides.  These will boost the absorbency of your diaper without adding bulk!  Great for added absorbency in a pocket diaper, too!



3 FuzziBunz One Size Pocket Diapers

Our nighttime solution when doubled with a JoeyBunz Hemp Doubler (also included!).  FuzziBunz are the most adjustable one size pocket diaper available.  Button-Hole elastic micro-adjust for the perfect fit around the legs and waist. 
A
pocket diaper keeps his skin dry by using fleece to wick away the moisture into the
absorbent material inside of the pocket.  We get 12+ hours at nights
with this solution!

We put 3 of these in this package.  Expect to use 2/night in the beginning.




Joey Bunz Hemp Inserts for Nights & Naps! (2-2pk mediums included in this package)




24 GroVia Cloth Wipes

Throw your wipes and dirty diapers into your trash can lined with a pail liner.

We chose the GroVia Cotton Wipes because they are simple, soft and absorbent. Use 1 to clean.  1 to dry. 

We toss our clean wipes into a basket next to our changing table.  No folding.   We simply dip a wipe into a solution of boiled water, tea tree oil, and a mild soap that we keep in a wipe warmer.  We cheat and use Knickernappies Baby Bum Drops to make our solution.

Confession: since we introduced solid food, we use disposable wipes for the Number 2 changes.  Then we follow up with a cloth wipe for a thorough, gentle cleaning.
 
Diaper Sprayer (optional)
Highly recommended.  At the beginning, you don't need to spray off the "solid" poos.  But when you introduce solid food, poop transforms.  It must be discarded into the toilet.  The diaper sprayer is a wonderful appliance for helping those peanut-buttery, sticky excrement into their rightful place: the toilet.  We'll be using this accessory even after diapering.  It makes a great personal shower (aka bidet), easily rinses out the potty training bowl, etc.  Thankful for our sprayer.

 
click for more info

2 Diaper Pail Liners

These aren't fancy - but they do the job and have held up well over the last 2 years of constant use!  Line your diaper pail
with this washable, elastic-topped waterproof bag.  When full, simply grab
the bag and haul to your washer.  No drips on the floor!  No need to touch those dirty diapers!  Dump in diapers into the machine by pushing the bottom.  Toss in bag.   Wash together.

You need 2 because you will continue to change diapers while the first is in the wash.  You also want these to last...


 

PlanetWise Diaper Pail Liner

Innovative Seam Sealing

• Reusable to help further reduce waste
• Made with sturdy no pill elastic
• Resists most odors & stains keeping smells in
• Anti-microbial
• Made in the USA
• Innovative leak-proof construction to prevent wicking and leaks. First & ONLY in the industry!
• Generous sizing to fit most diaper pails or waste cans. (approx. 28" tall & circumference of 54". Can be used alone as well.
• PVC Free

2 Smalls and 2 Mediums BabyKicks® Joey-Bunz Hemp Inserts

Dimensions are as follows: Small 13½” long, 6” at the widest part of hourglass shape and 4 ½” at the center Medium 15 ¼ ” long, 6” at the widest part of hourglass shape and 4 ½” at the center We love JoeyBunz!  These have the absorbency of 4 layers of hemp, but since they are only sewn on 1 end - they dry a lot faster!  Love that we can customize the absorbency of our heavy wetter at night when we double one (or two) of these with 1 cotton microfiber insert in our pocket diapers.  These also work fabulously with a prefold diaper tri-folded around it.  Very Versatile.  Very Slim.

Pouch riders for your Pocket Diapers! Now you can enjoy the trim, absorbent and easy to use Joey-Bunz with 4 layers of our most luxuriously soft 55% hemp / 45% cotton fleece! These are only 1/8 of an inch thick, and re-engineered to allow for even faster drying. Even better yet, you can fold our Premium Joey-Bunz in order to have protection where you need it most.

1 Magic Stick Diaper Ointment

With so many options and so much confusion about WHICH, exactly, diaper wetness barrier is safe for cloth diapers, we included one in this package to alleviate some anxiety.  This is a big purchase and you don't want to ruin the diapers' absorbency by choosing a non-cloth-friendly ointment.  We also love the scent and convenience of the GroVia Magic Stick: no fingers in the bum!