This month, my oldest is celebrating her 8th birthday. So, in honor of her, I’ll be doing a series of posts every Friday this month on some surprising lessons of motherhood that I learned from her. Nothing feels as scary or as wonderful (though mostly scary) as when you have your first child. That little being changes you, inside and out. And not always the way you thought they would. So join me for a look at what first time momhood taught me. You can probably relate…
Maybe this has happened to you. You’re having a conversation with a friend, or a co-worker, or a near stranger and you realize that you’ve been explaining, in graphic detail, your last childbirth experience. Your friend/stranger is nodding and cringing at the appropriate moments, but you slowly become aware of her husband’s growing restlessness, in the form of feet shuffling and frantic glances around. If you’re not mistaken, he’s eyeing the exit behind your back like a receiver about to make a break for the end zone.
What is it about having a baby that leaves us without a filter?
When I got pregnant with my first baby, I was so excited, but also worried. I had suffered a miscarriage a few months prior so I was doubly cautious about what I ate, drank, and did. I read tons of books and listened to endless amounts of free advice. I called my mother a lot. Maybe it was all that newfound knowledge, not to mention inclusion into the mommy club that made me so open.
Suddenly I was talking about fluids, dilation, effacement, and bathroom visits with anyone who would listen. Once she was born, I was happy to recount in vivid detail the 18 ½ hours of labor, from the first IV to the last.
Before having a baby, I never would have known that I would lose all sense of decorum. Because once my little one was in my arms, a whole new area of TMI opened up. Now, there were questions about poop color and consistency. There were those awkward moments when I tried to whip out a breast for a fidgety baby in a public place and probably flashed the entire room. There were conversations about post- baby body, post-baby sex, and post-baby laughing (luckily, I could still enjoy a joke without peeing).
Before I became a mother, I would never have thought I would share that much of my personal stuff with others, male or female. I still haven’t decided if this lack of reserve is a good thing or a bad thing. Is it liberating or socially awkward? I’ll let you know when I decide. But either way, it’s uniquely part of being a mom. And it’s a language we all speak.
Does this sound familiar? Did becoming a mom make you more candid? What do you think, good or bad? I’d love to hear your opinion in the comments!
Leave a Reply