I cannot tell you how many times I caught myself thinking “WHY NOBODY TOLD ME ABOUT THIS?” … and then quickly gave a dirty look to a woman standing next to me with a 5-year old “yes, YOU, you should have TOLD me” (I am pretty sure I have a gift of conveying strong mental messages without actually having to say a word… my husband is the only person this doesn’t work on.)
But deep down inside, right below my cellulite, I know people have told me everything… it’s just that in my head I had a perfect explanation of why it was hard for THEM and why it was going to be TOTALLY different for me:
- the sleep deprivation is brutal! What? I work 12 hour shifts, party till dawn, inject myself with RedBull and repeat, plus… you look like a total wuss anyway.
- babies are expensive! … it’s hard when you are FORCED to buy designer outfits and what is up with everything ORGANIC?
- your body will never be the same! You know that gym that I’ve been sponsoring for years? Well, now that I will no longer be working I am actually looking forward to going there. Like 5 times per week! Check out my new designer sneakers I bought just for that purpose!
- it will be so hard to find some”me” time! What exactly is preventing you from waking up an hour before the baby does? And what is wrong with your husband that you can never leave your baby with him anyway?
- you can never get anywhere on time. And what stopped you before you had a child?
- it is hard but totally worth it. I’ve seen your tantrum-throwing-biting-snot-dripping-not-sharing-with-others kid… and I know you HAVE to say this.
And here I am a year and one day later, with my third cup of coffee (before noon) in one hand, a tantrum throwing kid in another, apologizing to the cashier and all the people behind me for leaving my wallet at home (again)…. going back to my car, hoping I won’t run into anybody I know because I didn’t get a chance to shower (again), forcing my sleep deprived brain to remember where I parked my car… finally find the car, wipe the snot, kiss the baby’s tears away, go home and just look again at my brand new designer sneakers…. so beautiful… so new… just like my attitude.
Organic = expensive. I know. But yet, I feel forced to buy it because I am afraid of the contents of things that are not organic!
Old School/New School Mom´s last blog ..Playground Speed Dating
I hear ya… not only do I buy exclusively organic, I MAKE my own baby food (never thought a day would come…)
Hahahaha! Soooo funny!!! Haven’t we all had to eat our pre-baby words (or thoughts!)…. I *love* it!!!
I study child development and I am so full of it. Part of me is still convinced that my education is going to save me from all the perils of parenthood. I’m really looking forward to my (future) children giving me some humbling and real world education. Loved your post.
rosie´s last blog ..Not getting what you want.. part II
So true! We always think we will be exempt from the changes children bring. But hell no! Love this post!
Keyona´s last blog ..Question Of The Week
I love this blog post! It is so exactly what happens when you are a mother.
With me going on baby #3 here… I’m still having those types of thoughts and then STILL learning that I was wrong, LOL!
Here are some things that I’ve learned since being a mother:
http://thisthatandtheother-justjenn.blogspot.com/2010/02/what-ive-learned-as-mother.html
Thanks for sharing your experiences!
I have NO IDEA what you’re talking about.
Great post!
What really makes me nervous are the teenage years. I’m already worried about them, which surely doesn’t bode well for the future. I mean, since I don’t know the half about parenting teens…won’t that mean that it will be at least 50% worse than I already fear?
I’m not sure I like the math of parenting.
-Robyn
This is such a great post, and SO TRUE! I had so many ideas and preconceived notions about parenting and how my kids were never going to do such and such… totally eating my words and apologizing for being so judgemental now that I have my own kids!
kelly´s last blog ..A Miknaitis Family Outing!
Love it! Soooo true!
M
M´s last blog ..A serious fashion statement
I love the new attitude. It is funny what you think before and what actually happens.
Kassie´s last blog ..Must See Video…
Oh no…. I haven’t had any kids yet and i think all of those things!! I will now ponder for the rest of the day how i am totally wrong. But really? The gym won’t happen? What about long walks with the running stroller? Or that hour in the morning when it’s quiet and i can get some writing done? No?