finimi : Hey Anna, hello Thomas. You've become parents: Congratulations! What an exciting and wonderful time! Your little Mia is now 8 weeks old, right?
Anna : Yes, exactly. We've just finished the postpartum period. I took a lot of time to get to know the little one and had a lot of support, for which I'm really grateful.
finimi : Well, that's not something you can take for granted these days, especially when grandparents often don't live right next door. What was it like for you when you found out you were going to be parents?
Anna : Phew, I was overjoyed. Mia is a long-awaited child—we knew we'd get pregnant soon, so we had time to prepare ourselves. But holding the positive test in my hand, and then the second and third, is an overwhelming feeling.
Thomas : Absolutely! I can only agree. For me, too, as an expectant father, it was an absolutely exceptional situation. You just know that everything will change from now on. You suddenly have such a huge responsibility – it can't be compared to any other job in the world.
finimi : I believe it, an absolutely unique feeling—I can well imagine it. And how did you prepare for Mia's birth over time?
Anna : Not so much at first. We didn't want to stress about it. Friends recommended books to me, and I read the typical mommy blogs. I find the personal exchange with other mothers to be the most valuable. After all, they've been through it all before me. As my belly grew, we naturally began to think more about Mia's arrival.
Thomas : We only finished the nursery just before the birth—let's say five days—and Anna still wanted to help put together the dresser.
finimi : Not at first – that’s girl power.
Anna : Yes, but Thomas actually didn't let me.
finimi : That's better! Let's fast-forward to the time shortly after the birth. How did you feel in the early days with Mia?
Thomas : Overwhelmed. I was afraid to hold her because she seemed so small and fragile.
Anna : The first few weeks after the birth were magical for me, of course, but at the same time, I also felt overwhelmed. I love having visitors, but it was a bit too much for me, especially in the first two weeks. I really hadn't expected that of myself.
finimi : I totally understand. Were there any other challenges or surprises you didn't expect?
Anna : This tiredness! In the first two or three weeks, the sleepless nights didn't bother me that much. I enjoyed every moment and was kind of proud of myself. Haha, is that okay to say?
finimi : of course!
Anna : I feel like society views becoming a mother as normal and common. Yet, we accomplish so much, especially in the early stages. First, the pregnancy, which becomes incredibly exhausting toward the end, then the birth, breastfeeding, and sleepless nights. Seriously, we women have superpowers!
Thomas : I couldn't do that. I really wonder where Anna gets her energy from. Of course, I try to support her where I can. Even before the pregnancy, housework was a 50/50 task for us. Well, 40/60, if I'm honest with myself. But now I'm taking on a lot more. I can't breastfeed. I was actually surprised by how completely our sense of humor has changed because of the little one. We do so much more silly things with Mia now, and we laugh a lot more in everyday life. A real gift.
finimi : Oh, you said that beautifully. What were your biggest fears or worries when considering your new roles as mom and dad?
Thomas : Since I've only been back to work after a month, I've naturally been wondering whether I have enough time for Mia and whether I can give her enough attention. It's still a bit too early to really judge, but it's still a concern for me.
Anna : As a new mom, I think you're always worried and wondering if you're doing everything right. But as my friends have told me before: You'll make mistakes, and that's okay! That sentence calmed me down a bit.
finimi : That's a really nice sentence. How did you experience being new parents as a couple? Were there any changes in your relationship?
Anna : There have definitely been changes in our relationship, especially in the first few weeks as we were getting used to our new role as parents. As Thomas just mentioned, there's a lot more humor in the house now. This is incredibly good for our relationship. But at the same time, Mia is obviously our top priority now, and we're noticing that in our relationship. There's hardly any time for ourselves anymore.
Thomas : That's true. Even though it's difficult, we have to actively try to plan time together. I think that will be easier when Mia is a little older and no longer so dependent on her mom. But we absolutely enjoy the time together as a family, and it's certainly brought us closer together as a family.
finimi : Finally, I'd be interested to hear about your experience with the " Ask & Task for Birth " card set. You were one of the first testers. Did it help you prepare for the adventure of parenthood?
Anna : Absolutely! The questions and tasks helped us share our ideas, wishes, and concerns about parenthood. I also liked the opportunity to get to know each other again. We don't talk about such topics in everyday life. I think that by asking ourselves these questions before the birth and knowing each other's point of view, we were somehow more relaxed and were able to support each other with our concerns.
Thomas : Yes, the card set was truly enriching for us. We would draw the cards every now and then in the evenings on the couch and often get lost in conversation. The tasks were also cool and really fun. We can only recommend it to any other expectant parents!
finimi : Yes, thank you very much for your feedback and your time. Finally, is there any tip or inspiration you'd like to share with expectant parents?
Anna : Enjoy the first time, only do what makes you truly happy and accept help from outside.
