After giving birth, a woman's internal wounds take six months to heal, 12 months for physical recovery, two years for hormonal balance, and up to five years to rediscover her identity. Relationships frequently fail during this time due to a lack of understanding. Be kind and patient with new mothers; they are facing more challenges than it appears.
According to psychology, being the "good, low maintenance" child isn't a sign of innate maturity. It is a survival strategy known as parentification or fawning. You subconsciously recognized that your caregivers were too emotionally overwhelmed, volatile, or fragile to handle your age appropriate needs. You swallowed your own childhood and became invisible just to keep the peace.