Letter to My Pregnant Friends

So, clearly, I haven’t quite gotten a hold of this blogging thing. I’ve promised my thoughts on everything and so far have pretty much delivered my thoughts on nothing.   My friend, Bill, has kindly linked my blog to his. I’m not really sure what that means, or if it’s good or bad, but Bill, as soon as I figure things out, I’ll return the favor. Or the insult. Whatev.  ;)

     Anyway, on to my thoughts. I’m at the point in my life when my friends have had kids and they are growing up.  It’s one of the by-products of getting older. Blech.  But in the last few months I have discovered that two of my friends are pregnant!  One friend from running club, Mandy, who is more than halfway along, and my friend Becca, who I’ve known since she was practically a baby herself.  It’s so exciting to talk about ultrasounds, pregnancy hormones, and even morning sickness.

     These new soon-to-be-mothers reminded me of when I was pregnant with Hailey. My situation was different though, because I was alone.  When I was pregnant, people would joyfully and with barely disguised glee tell me how hard it was going to be.  They would discuss in detail the amount of diaper changing and night time feeding and crying and how tough it was going to be. Blah. Blah. Blah.  Yes. Thank you. It will be hard.  I get it.

     And you know what? Yes, it’s hard being a first time parent. You think you should naturally know how to breast feed or give your baby a bath.  You exist on little sleep and change what feels like one million diapers.  But guess what. That’s not the hard part.  Not even close.  The hard part is seeing your daughter with a broken heart and knowing there’s nothing you can do about it.  It’s having to tell your sweet girl something unbelievably horrible about someone she cares for.  It’s the feeling of complete nausea the entire time she’s out with a friend who drives.  It’s the utter helplessness of knowing your child is remarkably, stunningly beautiful but she’s not convinced. 

     I could go on and on about the hard parts of being a parent. But the great parts outweigh them.  By far.  By, like, a million. At least.  So new soon-to-be-moms, Mandy and Becca, expect crying and diapers.  But as for the great things, I’ll let you discover those yourselves.  My very very best wishes to you both. xoxox