Day Thirty-Three: Mantra

This is part of a creative project called 100 Word, 100 Days. In this project I’ll be writing a 100 word piece about my experience as a new mother every day for 100 days. Read more here.

While resuming yoga after months away, my mantra was “I am here for myself.” Earlier this week it was “I am not a bad mother”. I repeated this to myself as my daughter screamed with frustration that I put her down to finish getting dressed.

Today we were instructed by the nurse line to restrict her feeds after she projectile vomited so her stomach could settle. I repeated to myself “They would not tell me to do something that will harm her” while she cried. I need the mantra to remind me of the things I know but cannot believe.