We have a new member of the family.
My sister had a baby, which means I’m officially an aunt for the third time.

And I’m a damn cool aunt, if I do say so myself.
(Even my 14-year-old nephew agrees, which feels like a hard-won endorsement.)

After we found out about the pregnancy, my son asked if he and his sister were going to have another sibling.

I told him no—I had taken care of that.

He asked what I meant. He’s old enough to understand the birds and the bees, so I gave the very short, factual version involving eggs, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and a quick snip snip.

His response?

“Oh thank GOD.”

The relief was immediate. Deep. Soul-level.

I’m certainly no parenting pro. Honestly, we’re all first-time parents with every kid.
I’ve never parented a teenager before—and when my daughter gets there, she’ll be a completely different teenager with her own set of challenges.

But after a few kids, a few phases, and a lot of learning the hard way, you do pick up some things.

So here’s my best advice for new parents:

• Take all the advice. You don’t have to follow it—but sometimes the 100th suggestion is the one that finally works.
  
• Stay away from Google. Five minutes in and your kid’s runny nose has a terminal diagnosis. Just…don’t.
  
• It’s okay to disagree with the doctor. Mama’s intuition is a real thing. Trust it.
  
• You can’t force a baby to do anything. Sleep. Eat. Cooperate. They are tiny humans, not robots—and they know it.
  
• Everything is a phase. Even the ones that make you question every life choice you’ve ever made.
  
• The first year sucks. Period. And then it passes.
  
• Keep the gift receipts. People buy the wrong season every time. Yes, technically six months is summer. No, your baby will not be in six-month clothes then.
  
• Take the hospital-grade mesh underwear. Do not be shy. This is elite postpartum comfort.
  
• Don’t let anyone guilt you for your choices. Nothing is a problem until you decide it’s a problem. If it works for you, that’s all that matters.
  

Sis, I’m so excited for you to finally have this little slice of heaven you’ve been dreaming about.
I’ll happily hold your baby and spoil him or her rotten…

…and then give them right back. 😉