Parenthood

I had my child when I was quite old, at 40 years of age.   My life is very different now, being married with a newborn baby, from the life I lived when I was single.  Here are some examples of the contrasts between those two lives.  I have a feeling this is true for each and every mother as well.

My hair

Before kids:  I used to dry my hair with a hair dryer and then make some curls with my electrical curling iron.  I spent a lot of time fixing my hair in the bathroom.  I felt more confident before I walked out of the house.

After kids:  My hair stays wet for a few hours and is boring and straight. I have no time to even comb my hair and I don’t feel like going out at all.

My exercise and friends

Before kids:  I used to take a hot yoga class every weekend and meet friends for coffee or lunch.  My time spent shopping with friends was fun.

After kids:  My exercise is carrying the baby and walking him around the house.  My best friends are now my baby and my husband.

My sleep

Before kids: 10 o’clock was my bedtime and 6 o’clock was the time I woke up. I woke up fresh from eight hours of sleep and felt ready for each new day.

After kids: I have no fixed time to go to bed and wake up.  My baby is now the boss - I respond to him whenever he wakes up or goes to bed. The black rounded eyes of the teddy bear are what my eyes look like now.

My life:

Before kids:  My husband and I usually spent most of our time together; cooking, cleaning, gardening, traveling, watching movie, giving each other haircuts, etc.

After kids: Time with my husband is cut in half and now I miss having time with my husband.

However, every morning I wake up, I look at my son’s face, I smile and I am grateful to my husband for giving me the precious gift of a baby.  Our baby brings joy and love to my life.  Before having a child, I used to think that my life alone was fulfilling but I now feel complete.  I can’t find the words to explain exactly how I feel.   As a result of experiencing pregnancy, labor and the suffering that goes with that experience, I now know how much my mom loves me and today I love my mom more than ever.