Bourn Sisters
posted in Mum StoriesBeing a new mum comes with a whole load of emotions but I never knew loneliness would be one. I live quite far from friends and family with a partner who has a very demanding job so for me I think this hit me quite hard. I'm so lucky that my best friend and sister is also a mum and we FaceTime all the time, but it's not quite the same as seeing a friendly face in the flesh.
Even though I am now never alone as I have my beautiful baby boy, it's such a different relationship to those you have with friends and people who can actually talk back. You feel all of a sudden left out of things you could have once done and it does feel lonely. I have amazing supportive friends and partner but sometimes it's just the small things that seem to build up after several days of no sleep.
It's so weird because there are so many mums so you would think that being alone wasn't possible as you have something in common with so many people, but getting to know new mums in your area is quite a scary and daunting thing. Well for me it is anyway.
The idea of mum and baby groups initially filled me with dread and anxiety. I'm 22, so often classed as a 'young mum' and sadly sometimes feel people don't really take me seriously.
After a lot of persuasion, I agreed to start baby swimming classes. My initial worries were proved wrong and I've met some lovely mums and babies. It feels so good to get out of the house and talk to other mums about the same things I'm going through.
I challenge you the next time you see a lonely looking mum and baby to try and start a conversation and get to know her, because I can bet you anything that it'll make her day.
Love Hattie x
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Have you felt new mum loneliness?