Struggles of a first-time mom
A muted episode of Jersey Shore plays on the television, unfolded laundry cover the bed, and empty baby bottles line the dresser in the bedroom of Aimee Hernandez. Sitting in her rocking chair, she soothes her two-month-old baby who has fussed for several minutes. “Ya, mi amour, I know you’re sleepy,” Hernandez said, “Stop fighting it, just go to sleep!” Aimee Hernandez’s life changed dramatically on February 10, when she gave birth to her first child, Jameson. At 24 years old , her vision of pregnancy and motherhood was clouded by the simplicity that exudes from social media and television. With no one to turn to for advice besides her mother, Aimee relied on mom blogs, vlogs, and detailed Google searches before and after birth. One month later, sleep deprivation, a colicky baby, and a boyfriend who works 65 hours a week has revealed that motherhood is not as joyous as it seems. “Parenthood looks easier on social media,” said Hernandez, a first-time mom. “...