A big part of being a parent is sacrifice.
So, it’s a good thing to be able to find support and encouragement from family, friends, and online communities such as the new Q&A platform, theAsianparent Community.
One anonymous user posted this question:
screengrab: theAsianparent Community
Then, results began pouring in. Mom of two Jolin L. cites having little to no support on her breastfeeding journey as one of her biggest parenting struggles thus far. She recounts how, with her first child, she struggled to produce milk. With her second child, she had bouts with fever due to milk clots. Though it was difficult, she pressed on.
“My family members, especially my husband, asked me to give up breastfeeding seeing me in so much pain. I am glad that I persisted…”
Mom of three Diana L. encountered a similar struggle. “I experienced a lot of pain as I have frequent blocked ducts and had a mastitis,” she writes of breastfeeding her first child. “My family members, especially my husband, asked me to give up breastfeeding seeing me in so much pain. I am glad that I persisted and managed to breastfeed her until she is two-and-a-half years old, which I never thought I can do for so long.”
“I need to qualify that I am a new mother as well – so my experiences are still very limited,” writes polar mummy77. “But I do agree with Diana – for me the most painful thing has been my breastfeeding journey as well. It hurt like a thousand little knives twisting off my nipple every time my baby latches. I wish someone had warned me about the physical pain of breastfeeding. It is also mentally torturing as you keep wondering if you are producing enough milk and how to boost your yield. And the guilt you need to deal with if you can’t breastfeed.”
More responses from parents on the next page
“It’s always kids falling sick and the repercussions of it.”
For mom of four Liana Z., the most painful part of parenting is whenever her kids get sick. “When my second girl was a year old, we have been in and out of hospital due to fever fits.” Because her brother who passed away got sick at a young age, she gets stressed whenever her kids fall ill. She also counts financial difficulties as one the most difficult things she’s had to face.
For mom of two Minoli A., it’s also whenever her kids get sick. “It’s always kids falling sick and the repercussions of it,” she shares. “Sleepless nights, the worrying, the tiredness and frustration dealing with a sick baby who can’t express themselves in words. Although I miss them as babies, I’m also relieved because now they handle sickness way better.”
As for Stephanie G., it was when her child was wrongfully diagnosed that she struggled the most.
“I think as a parents the most painful is when our kids are sick , they can only cry and can’t express themself ,” shares Sherlin L. “There was once I cried when my girl was admitted to the hospital due to cough and the nurse had to draw out her phlegm.”
photo: dreamstime
“When others try to show to my kids that they are better parents than we are…”
Mom of two Nita J. struggled with having to deal with unwarranted advice from fellow parents. “When others try to show to my kids that they are better parents than we are,” she writes. “I find that the most evil thing ever.”
Jam G. found herself uncertain about what to do when her baby got sick. She could only make sure that she took her medication on time and that was about it.
Bella S., a mom of two, recounted the utter terror when she witnessed her nephew drop her firstborn, who was a year and a half old at the time. “His chin had a deep cut, it needed 21 stitches,” he recounts. “My heart aches until today each time I see his wound. I have never forgiven myself. Hence, I become very picky with the people who wants to carry my number two.”
READ: How can new dads deal with self-doubt and anxiety about parenthood?
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