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I Thought I’d Thrive as a New Mom — Here’s What Actually Happened

I Love My Baby… and I’m So Bored Myleik Teele thought she’d thrive in new motherhood. She was organized, capable, ambitious, and great at figuring things out. But after her baby arrived, she found herself feeling something she never expected: bored. In this episode, Dr. Becky and Myleik talk honestly about the monotony of early parenting, the loss of spontaneity and identity, and the shame so many parents feel when reality doesn’t match what they imagined. Together, they explore why the newborn stage can feel especially hard for people who are used to moving fast, solving problems, and finding meaning through competence. If you’ve ever thought: - “Why am I not enjoying this more?” - “What’s wrong with me?” - “Why does this feel so repetitive and isolating?” …this conversation is for you. Thank you to our partners for making this episode possible: - Once Upon a Farm:: https://onceuponafarmorganics.com/ Use the code GOODINSIDE for 40% off your first subscription - LMNT: https://partners.drinklmnt.com/free-gift-with-purchase?utm_medium=sponsor&utm_source=goodinside&utm_campaign=agwp&utm_content=&utm_term=&rfsn_cn=EXCLUSIVE+GIFT+FOR+Dr.+Becky%27s+COMMUNITY: Get a free 8-count sample pack with your purchase at LMNT.com/goodinside: https://partners.drinklmnt.com/free-gift-with-purchase?utm_medium=sponsor&utm_source=goodinside&utm_campaign=agwp&utm_content=&utm_term=&rfsn_cn=EXCLUSIVE+GIFT+FOR+Dr.+Becky%27s+COMMUNITY - Airbnb: https://click.pscrb.fm/2f: Host your home or book your next stay on Airbnb

Dr. BeckyhostMyleik Teeleguest
May 14, 202627mWatch on YouTube ↗

At a glance

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

New motherhood’s boredom: why it happens and how to cope

  1. Myleik describes expecting to “crush” new motherhood with planning and efficiency, only to feel bored, joyless, and trapped in repetitive newborn tasks.
  2. They unpack how the newborn stage can strip away novelty, autonomy, and social connection, creating a double hit of more monotony and fewer energizing outlets.
  3. A central theme is that the hardest part is often the “layers” added to boredom—shame, comparison, and the belief that good parents shouldn’t feel this way.
  4. They reframe good parenting as tolerating hard feelings rather than solving them, and emphasize boredom is not a report card on love or future parenting quality.
  5. Myleik shares that parenting became more enjoyable as her kids got older and life regained novelty, feedback, and easier “idea-to-action” execution.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Boredom in the newborn stage is common and meaningful—not shameful.

Repetitive care tasks can feel mind-numbing, especially when contrasted with a previously novelty-rich life; boredom doesn’t mean you don’t love your baby or regret parenthood.

The “double whammy” is real: fewer energizing inputs plus more monotonous demands.

New parents often lose travel, spontaneity, and social time while simultaneously gaining constant repetitive chores—making boredom and low mood more likely.

Your suffering often comes from the story you tell about the feeling.

The raw feeling (“this is boring”) is hard, but adding self-criticism (“good parents don’t feel this”) and comparison intensifies distress and isolation.

Trying to ‘strategize’ your way out of boredom can backfire.

For efficiency-oriented, high-achieving people, treating boredom as a problem to solve can create pressure to feel differently; the more helpful move is practicing tolerance and self-compassion.

Boredom is not a predictor of the kind of parent you’ll be.

Dr. Becky emphasizes that hard thoughts aren’t characterological; they don’t forecast poor attachment, lack of love, or future parenting failure.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

I very quickly realized I am not enjoying this at all.

— Myleik Teele

There's no book that says, "Here's something for you when it's not enjoyable or when you feel really bored."

— Myleik Teele

It seemed like, it felt like in the moment, like, my life's going to be this way forever.

— Myleik Teele

Doing a good job as a new parent is not making the hard easy. It's actually just talking ourselves through staying in the hard, right?

— Dr. Becky

It's okay if you aren't enjoying this. It's okay. This is boring, and it's hard, and this is not a, this is not a time for you to try to strategize yourself out of the feeling.

— Myleik Teele

“This is boring” as a taboo postpartum thoughtIdentity shift: high-achiever/entrepreneur to new parentMonotony of newborn care (laundry, bottles, naps)Loss of novelty, autonomy, and connectionShame, comparison, and self-judgment layersTolerating hard vs. problem-solving feelingsHow enjoyment can change as kids grow

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