living the life of dreams
6:25:00 PM
Throughout my pregnancy it seemed like everybody felt the need to tell me about
all the negative aspects of childbirth and parenthood. I was
ceaselessly told to prepare for a whole lot of crying, fatigue,
diaper changing and laundry. People told me how awful it was going be
to have a baby in the winter, how hard pregnancy is, how much
breastfeeding was going to hurt, etc. etc. It felt like people only
ever had negative things to say about being a parent and I quickly
grew weary of hearing it. We were so excited, beyond excited,
to be pregnant. We knew it was going to be hard, we knew we were
going to lose sleep, we knew our lives were going to be completely
different and we didn't care. We couldn't have been more thrilled at
the prospect of bringing a sweet little life into this world. Being
met with negativity over and over again didn't dim our excitement but
just coupled it with discouragement and frustration. We wanted, more
than anything, for people to share in our excitement. Of course,
there were plenty of people who did, and we were so so grateful for
that. Generally, though, we were met with a lot of negativity
presented as warning and preparation (mostly from strangers, oddly
enough).
After
experiencing this over and over again, I made a goal that whenever I
talked to people about having children I would be honest but kind and
encouraging. I think there is a lot of maturity in the ability to
graciously share joy with others and it is something I really value
in my relationships with others. Of course there is a place for
discussing sad, difficult, sensitive things but often it needs to be
balanced with a whole lot of joy. It is important to not only feel
like we can confide in others and share our insecurities with them
but to also feel like we can share our joy and excitement. Because,
man, there is lots of it. When I hear that someone is going to become
a parent I just want to hug them and tell them I wish I could somehow
prepare them for all the joy they are going to feel. I want to tell
them that they'll feel tired but they won't miss sleeping. That their
lives will change forever in the very best possible way. That at the
very second that their sweet baby is placed in their arms they won't
even be able to comprehend what life was like before that moment. And
that every thing they have ever done before having that child will
suddenly pale in comparison to the joy and fulfillment of parenthood.
I want pregnant women/expectant couples to feel empowered. I want
them to know that they are taking on something great and wonderful
and powerful. I want them to feel supported and excited and to feel
like they have this whole army of experienced parents behind them -
encouraging them, loving them, and waiting to help. I want parenthood
(and pregnancy, for that matter) to be seen as a joyous thing, not a
cumbersome topic. Because lets be honest, there is just nothing
better. Parenthood is hard, but oh is it joyful.
also
- as I was writing this
commercial came on. i thought it was so beautiful and encapsulates
parenthood as well as an iphone commercial can :)
4 comments
Just what we talked about! I love you Mal and your perspective. You are one awesome mom!
ReplyDeleteOnce again you put my same feelings into perfect words. What's funny is when I saw your post on Facebook I immediately came to read this because we are on the same wave length. I just wrote a post yesterday (but it is still in draft form) on this same topic on my blog. About how this stage of life contains SO much joy for me right now, however imperfect it may be. I LOVE being a mom and having new and exciting experiences with Rosie everyday. Being a mom is so much more wonderful in real life than anyone can even prepare you for. I feel like you emulate a mother who is so in tune with what is important and lovely and fulfilling! I look up to you a lot Mal!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for posting this. I hate all the negativity I encounter about pregnancy and parenthood. It makes me afraid to do it. But I feel the truth in these words of yours. THANK YOU for sharing. Please keep writing!!
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