Whew. It's the start of another grueling week. It's the start of wondering where your sanity is going. It's the start of every test your little one can throw at you. It's the start of still realizing you haven't made it to the gym even though you said you were going to start a month ago. It's the start of realizing just how strong you truly are.
Having a baby is no easy task-- at any age. I remember when I got, and was, pregnant the question I hated most was, "Are you ready for a baby?" Um, no. No I'm not. But the reality was (the more I thought about it) no one is really ready to have a baby. Sure, you can be older and be more financially stable. Sure, you could probably be in a more stable relationship. Sure, you could be well into your career so you can afford to take the maternity leave. But the reality is shit happens and we deal with it.
So, congratulations. You're having, or had, a baby. And congratulations, it isn't the end of the world!!! Crazy, right? You will eventually go back to school. You will eventually move somewhere else on the map. You will eventually finish that degree you had started. You will eventually gain that career you've always wanted. You will eventually be able to do anything you want to do in life. A baby doesn't make things impossible. Harder? Yeah, probably. But not impossible.
Looking back on having my little girl I realize how incredibly loved she is by my friends, my parents, my sister, my brother-in-law, my grandparents, my aunts, my uncles, my cousins, our co-workers, my boyfriend's parents, his brother, his friends, his aunts, his uncles, his grandma, and his cousins. I don't think I have ever felt luckier before. It takes a village to raise a baby and we are lucky enough to have that. Some people don't have that and it's unfortunate but as long as you love that baby then that's all that matters.
I've said it earlier, having a baby isn't easy. But what goes around comes around. Yes, your friends are currently traveling abroad, graduating, maybe spending an ungodly amount of money on alcohol, and even getting that big girl job four states away that you wish you could do. You're at home taking care of a baby that you chose to keep.
What's funny about having a baby so early in life is that eventually that baby grows up, turns 18 and moves out. You had your baby at 18? 19? 20? 21? Hey, you won't even be 40 when he or she is out of the house. And guess what... all your friends who were doing the list above will probably have kids less than 10 years old. You'll be in a good paying job and no babies in the house which means traveling with money, spending whatever you want on clothes or drinks, and maybe taking a promotion that requires you to move to a different state.
I know money is probably tight because we are so young. I know the idea of how we make rent each month is in the back of our minds constantly. I know figuring out activities for the little one is mind boggling because they have an attention span of a gnat. I know cooking feels like a foreign concept because little ones like one thing one day but never the next. I know you sometimes get frustrated because you can never finish one task without getting interrupted or can no longer pee in peace.
Some days I just want to be a young adult but I'm not. We are not. We have a life that depends on us for absolutely everything. We have a life who gives us good night kisses. We have a life who will love us and be there for us when it feels like no one else is. We have a life that sometimes just wants us to hold them. We have a life that will grow up one day to be a doctor, a teacher, a police officer, or maybe even president. We are raising someone to be a good husband or wife one day. Someone who has manners and respect. So what if we are young, we are raising the next generation and that is something to be proud of no matter your age.
You're beautiful.
You're stronger than you know.
You're kicking ass at this mom thing.
