I enjoyed reading this uplifting post from Kat Stone over at Postpartum Progress. I can’t wait to be to the point where she is emotionally. I try to envision what it looks like to thoroughly enjoy motherhood. Right now it looks like the station on your TV that just won’t come in clear no matter how you re-arrange the antennae. One of these days that baby will just POP, and the picture will be clear, bright and beautiful. For me and for you, too.
The Future Is Bright by Katherine Stone
I had the opportunity this weekend to retell the story of my experience with postpartum depression/OCD. Even though it has been six years, it astounded me how the feelings rise up and bubble over — it surprised me that I cried. I guess it just goes to show what an intense and indelible experience PPD is for everyone who goes through it. It also served to remind me how different I am today than I was during those dark hours.
I am so unbelievably happy to be a mom. It is truly the best job I’ve ever had or will have. My children are my oxygen. Is it easy every day? Of course not. When my 20-month old decides to remove her diaper and spread its contents around her crib, I pray for mercy. When they throw tantrums in public, I want to tell onlookers that they don’t belong to me. But then my funny little six-year-old tells me “Mom, just five more gallons and I’ll be as tall as you”, and I feel like the luckiest, happiest person in the world.
For those of you reading this who are going through postpartum depression right now I hope you can find some hope in that. I went from being someone who thought I never should have been a mother, to being someone who delights in motherhood. You will too.
This is a great post! I’m a big fan of Katherine’s and admire the great work she’s doing. I was thrilled to meet her at the Blogher convention in Chicago.
It never ceases to amaze me the strength of the feelings that pop up whenever I revisit my own PPD experience. It has been nearly 12 years since I suffered horribly after the birth of my third child and only this past year I started blogging about it. At first, I was so ashamed and embarrassed about having had PPD and didn’t even tell my friends. Plus it was so difficult to revisit that horrible time that brought so much pain upon my family. But as the years went by, and I heard stories of other women suffering, I realized that I needed to speak out. I can’t believe that women are still suffering, and dying, of this devastating disorder. Those of us who have fortunately come through the other side need to speak out to spread awareness — not only of PPD but of how it is so treatable and preventable.
Your site is great.
Warm regards,
Kristin
http://ppdsurvivor.blogspot.com