Six months has brought a lot of lessons

As the nation celebrates its birthday today, I also am noting a milestone: My son’s half birthday.

That’s right. My baby is six months old and the time has just flown by — partially attributed to sleep-deprived delirium.

Here are some lessons I have learned along the way:

• It’s OK to take your baby to public places: My instincts still fight this concept. I am loath to disrupt a pleasant experience for others by being “the lady with the crying baby.” Most people understand you’re not going to be able to control an infant’s sudden outbursts.

• Avoid travel when possible: Give yourself hours of padding if you are going on long car trips. Just a trip to visit family in Detroit took about five hours. Think about it: The baby only can sleep for so long but needs to eat, be changed and be played with frequently. Think about it — the license plate game originated for a reason. Car trips are boring.

Air travel is no better. With security measures as tight as they are, you are not airport-friendly. Between suntan lotion, ointment, wipes, milk and freezer packs, you have enough liquid to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool. It’s not fun being in the “special inspections” line.

• You are allowed to be a tiger mother: At first, I was apologizing to in-laws, sitters, daycare providers — even my husband — when I wanted things a certain way. I didn’t want people thinking I was a control freak. After about two months of that, you realize you don’t have the time or emotional energy for that. It’s your child, and you have the right to set the standard of care you want. Period.

• Allow yourself to ask for help: I don’t know if it’s the fact that I don’t want to bother anyone or a point of personal pride, but I have a difficult time asking for help.  After all, generations of women have been doing this unassisted. But, if you think about it logically, the world is a different place than it was even 30 years ago. With a full-time job, part-time schooling and having a husband out of state, no one in their right mind should think I could do this all on my own.

• Steal moments: It’s inevitable. Your magnetic pole has shifted so that your baby now is the center of your universe. But try not to take life too seriously: laugh with him, allow yourself to be silly, take a lot of pictures. And don’t forget to take a little time to focus on yourself and your partner. You will thank yourself later.