Why is it once you get pregnant or have a baby people start saying things like ‘just wait until…’ followed by something negative?
Like you get pregnant, then all you hear is ‘enjoy your sleep while you can, just wait until your baby is here, you will have NO sleep‘. Meanwhile you are left thinking ‘thank you for your unhelpful reminder but I gave up ‘good sleep’ 6 months ago when I exchanged it for getting up to go for a wee every 45 minutes and rolling round like a rotisserie chicken because my hips ache if I lay in the same position for too long. And by too long I mean 10 minutes’.

When I was pregnant I couldn’t wait for my baby to be here. Now she is here, and yes, it is tiring, but I would rather be tired and have her here than be tired and pregnant without her.

Back to my original rant. I’m sure people are coming from a place of love and trying to be helpful, or even just making conversation, but why does it have to be so negative?

Finally your wonderful baby arrives and people are suddenly like ‘enjoy it while it lasts’, just wait until they’re crawling’ or ‘wait until they are putting everything in their mouths’, or ‘wait until they can talk back to you’. Each said with a negative undertone. This is literally what children are supposed to do.

‘Just wait until…’ What about all the heartwarming things new parents have to look forward to?

Why does nobody talk about this?

The first time Olive looked at me and smiled melted my heart. And the other day she laughed for the first time, and I’ll be chasing that sound forever.

At this moment in time, I am the only thing that Olive needs. I am her security, her feeder, her warmth. Sometimes I pick her up and she squeezes my neck so tight with her little arms, and holds onto my hair like if she lets go she thinks I might disappear. It makes every late night more than worth it.

I am under no illusion that parenting is easy. I know it is going to be really tough at points, but I have still got so much to look forward to. Like when they walk towards you with their wobbly little legs. Or that magical moment when they say your name.

Do people just forget how much fun and love their children bring into their lives?

My parents and my grandparents inspired me a lot to just enjoy it. And to try and make the best of it when things are hard. They showed me how much fun it can be when you don’t take life too seriously.

So next time someone tells you ‘just wait until..’ followed by something negative, tell them what bits you are excited for. Or to stick it up their arse. Whichever works 🙂

Ellie

Read my post on ‘When your baby wakes up every hour of the night’ for more uplifting parenting