CONFESSIONS OF A COFFEE GROUP DROPOUT NAVIGATING NEW MOTHERHOOD

MOTHERHOOD, FOR A FIRST-TIMER, CAN BE AN OVERWHELMING AND EVEN FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE BUT ADMITTING THIS DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE DONE THING. THE BIRTH, ACCORDING TO ELEANOR, IS THE LEAST OF IT. IT'S WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE BIRTH THAT BLOWS YOUR MIND. YOU'RE MEANT TO LOOK LIKE AN EXPERT FROM DAY ONE DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE CHOICES CONFRONTING FIRST TIME PARENTS ARE MIND BOGGLING - AND WHATEVER THEY DECIDE SOMEONE WILL TELL THEM THEY'RE WRONG. THEN THERE'S THE UNSOLICITED ADVICE OFFERED BY COMPLETE STRANGERS TO THE COMPETITIVE COFFEE GROUP MOTHERS, FROM BABY MUSIC CLASSES TO THE EXPECTATIONS OF PARENTAL PERFECTION, THE PRESSURES BROUGHT TO BEAR ON NEW PARENTS SEEMED TO INCREASE WITH EVERY PASSING WEEK. ELEANOR FOUND BEING THROWN INTO THIS MUMMY-AND-ME UNIVERSE COMPLETELY BIZARRE. AND ON TALKING TO FRIENDS, SHE FOUND SHE WASN'T ALONE. AMONG FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND ACQUAINTANCES, SHE FOUND PLENTY OF OTHER PARENTS WHO WERE AS BAFFLED AS HER WHEN IT CAME TO THE EXPECTATIONS PLACED ON MODERN