Mama Memoirs: Part 1
“I’m Not Having Fun”
“Women are liars!”
“This is for the birds!”
“I’m NOT having fun!”
These are the exact words I spoke to my mom over the phone on what was supposed to be a pleasant hour and a half drive to visit good friends that were in town for brunch. But guess what reader…it was not pleasant. In fact, it was the complete opposite. Hormones kicked in and out of nowhere and I started hysterically crying… Actually, I shouldn’t say out of nowhere…a butterfly hit my windshield and you would have thought with the way I reacted, my newest sweater shrunk three sizes too small because I put it in the dryer!
So naturally, I called my mom. I spoke those beginning words to her, and here I was waiting for a quick fix or natural remedy to make it all better. But no. On the other side of the phone, she was trying so hard not to let me hear her cackle at my series of unfortunate events.
I screamed, “MOM!” and her motherly advice was, “Yea…it’s not fun…but it’s worth it!” That’s it? That’s all I get? You’re agreeing with me?!
To be honest, that was actually the first time I had heard someone agree and validate the way I was feeling. This was bonkers to me because I literally thought I should be placed into an insane asylum for not having “the fun” people spoke of during my pregnancy.
Everyone else I talked to or heard before becoming pregnant RAVED on and on about how awesome their experience was. So, naturally as one does when they haven’t experienced something and are naive, they believe everything they are told. I believed pregnancy was supposed to be glowing and fun with the baby showers and decorating of the nursery. Well reader the only time I was “glowing” was the morning after I rubbed on my fake tan.
I write this first piece to validate the way a new mom may be feeling because everyone’s not as lucky to have the validation I received from my own mom. I write this to be a mom like/friend like figure in your life to say it’s okay if you’re not enjoying pregnancy! It can be absolutely miserable!
And vice versa, it’s okay if you’re loving pregnancy! Glow girl glow!
Regardless of how you feel, this journey deserves to be cherished. How you may ask, does one cherish a journey when saltines and the toilet have become their best friend?
That’s for the next piece.
Talk then,
Jordan