New Parents

A little before midnight on Tuesday night, my husband’s phone rang.  This is definitely unusual for us.   Out of courtesy, my husband went downstairs to take the call, but naturally I was very interested about who was on the other end of that phone call.  When he came back to bed he explained that our good friends who were expecting their first child were at the hospital.  She was having contractions and the doctors were determining whether to admit her.  I was suddenly very excited for them.  I get this way whenever one of my friends is about to have a baby.  My mind starts swirling with all the things they are about to experience and the wild ride they are about to begin.

You see, they do not yet know the feeling of sitting in the living room together and feeling alone because the baby is asleep in the other room.  Or giving up something you really want to do because you would rather be home to tuck your child into bed instead.  Or the strange feeling you get when you leave the house on your first date night, but feel like you are missing someone.  Then talking about the baby the entire time they are out on the date night, despite the fact that you promised you would never be “those parents”.

They don’t yet know the joy you feel  when your child gives you that first responsive smile.  They are unaware of the happiness that overcomes you when your child starts to roll, sit, stand, and walk, all the while developing their own little personality.  The way it warms your heart first time they say “ma-ma” and mean it, or “I love you” and actually know what they are saying.  The heartbreak you feel when you see another child intentionally knock your child down on the playground.  The pride you feel when they present you with something they made all by themselves.

There is no way for them to know these things.  There just isn’t.  It is like a secret I know, but they don’t.  I know these wonderful things are going to happen to them.  I know a great transformation into a parent began the moment their daughter was born last night, but they don’t fully realize that yet.

When you are expecting, people are all too eager to tell you about the tough parts of being a new parent – sleep deprivation, dirty diapers, making bottles, doing tons and tons of laundry, and generally being busier than you have ever been in your entire life – but never tell you how sweet it can be.  Now deeply entrenched in the terrible twos, I know that they will face more challenges as they pass the newborn phase, but this is just a drop in the bucket compared to the happiness you experience as a parent.

Forgive me as I get a little sentimental today.  This picture was taken exactly 5 months ago:

That little baby is now this, slightly bigger baby:

Sniff, sniff.  Five months already?!?  Where has the time gone?