I'm sorry for being awkward around your baby
Somewhere at the point of being in our twenties, most of our
friends have graduated college and moved on to the next phase in their life.
After months and months of wedding invitations and shopping for wedding gifts,
phase 2 quickly interjects itself as invitations to baby showers and birthday
parties quickly replace those old invites mantled up on your refrigerator.
This seems like the natural sequence of things and is perfectly acceptable for this age. We graduate high school, go to college, get a job, and the rest just falls into place. It’s traditional and natural and is a major custom.
This seems like the natural sequence of things and is perfectly acceptable for this age. We graduate high school, go to college, get a job, and the rest just falls into place. It’s traditional and natural and is a major custom.
First, let me just say that my friends have some of the
CUTEST kids you have ever seen in your life (and no, I’m not even being biased….okay
maybe a little). I am so excited to help
my friends celebrate this joyous part of their lives.
Having said that, I have absolutely no freaking clue what your life is like!
I’m trying to hang in there. I am. BELIEVE ME! I’ve babysat for the last 10 years, I’ve been around kids, and I’m even pretty good with them. But while you come home to feed this little person, I come home every night and water my plant. That’s my life. I don’t have a tiny human latching onto me like a lifeline. And thank GOD because I barely remember to feed myself!
I love this phase that you all have entered. It’s so awesome to watch and I’m so excited to [semi] partake in these beautiful moments with you. However, it has to be said:
Things. Are going. To get. AWKWARD.
You are all beautiful mommies and daddies, but let’s face it. You are not the hardcore partier and late nighter you used to be. You’ve traded in your late nights for long afternoon naps and early bedtimes. You get excited over things like breast pumps and getting into the “good” daycare. Your idea of success is wearing something other than pajamas on a Saturday, and actually having 5 minutes of peace.
Don’t get me wrong, mommyhood/daddyhood looks great on you, and you ROCK it.
But I’m 10+ years away from all of that. I’m what they like to call, “a late bloomer”.
I’m kind of a selfish mess and while I love those little balls of cuddles you have produced, I am not even close to parenthood. I literally had a granola bar and a bag of chips for lunch today, and I use rumchata as a substitute for creamer (hey, they’re both dairy!).
I’m sorry I don’t know how to act when you talk about the stresses of parenting, and I’m sorry that I don’t often invite you to go on those spur of the moment road trips or nights out on the town. It doesn’t make me love you any less and it doesn’t mean I don’t adore your little families. I do. I absolutely do. I love those texts of cute baby faces and I cheer for those little ones when they use the potty for the first time. I love all their little triumphs and I know someday you’ll cheer along with my own little ones. Just know that your children will probably be old enough to babysit my children by the time they are born (assuming I don’t turn into a spinster).
And to all you single ladies and gents out there who are in the same boat as me, it’s OKAY! We all suck at jumping in the conversation about teething and school bullying. It’s alright, it’s cool. Go ahead and throw out those sarcastic responses that leave the room in cricket sounds. Don’t stop being YOU just because your friends have children. Be awkward. Make inappropriate jokes. It is fine!!
We all hit those phases in our lives at different ages, and I’ve come to the understanding that I’m not mature enough or ready to be in the stage yet. That is something that works on an individual basis.
So my dear, sweet friends. I’m sorry for all the really sarcastic comments I make about your kiddos……I do love them, I promise. I’m sorry when I teach them to do things you hate or laugh and encourage their naughty behavior. I am not a mom, I don’t know the struggle—and neither do any of your other single friends. We don’t suck, we’re just not there yet. And someday I know you will show me the ropes and make fun of all my parenting fails. You will be my best coaches, and for that, I am truly thankful. (:
Having said that, I have absolutely no freaking clue what your life is like!
I’m trying to hang in there. I am. BELIEVE ME! I’ve babysat for the last 10 years, I’ve been around kids, and I’m even pretty good with them. But while you come home to feed this little person, I come home every night and water my plant. That’s my life. I don’t have a tiny human latching onto me like a lifeline. And thank GOD because I barely remember to feed myself!
I love this phase that you all have entered. It’s so awesome to watch and I’m so excited to [semi] partake in these beautiful moments with you. However, it has to be said:
Things. Are going. To get. AWKWARD.
You are all beautiful mommies and daddies, but let’s face it. You are not the hardcore partier and late nighter you used to be. You’ve traded in your late nights for long afternoon naps and early bedtimes. You get excited over things like breast pumps and getting into the “good” daycare. Your idea of success is wearing something other than pajamas on a Saturday, and actually having 5 minutes of peace.
Don’t get me wrong, mommyhood/daddyhood looks great on you, and you ROCK it.
But I’m 10+ years away from all of that. I’m what they like to call, “a late bloomer”.
I’m kind of a selfish mess and while I love those little balls of cuddles you have produced, I am not even close to parenthood. I literally had a granola bar and a bag of chips for lunch today, and I use rumchata as a substitute for creamer (hey, they’re both dairy!).
I’m sorry I don’t know how to act when you talk about the stresses of parenting, and I’m sorry that I don’t often invite you to go on those spur of the moment road trips or nights out on the town. It doesn’t make me love you any less and it doesn’t mean I don’t adore your little families. I do. I absolutely do. I love those texts of cute baby faces and I cheer for those little ones when they use the potty for the first time. I love all their little triumphs and I know someday you’ll cheer along with my own little ones. Just know that your children will probably be old enough to babysit my children by the time they are born (assuming I don’t turn into a spinster).
And to all you single ladies and gents out there who are in the same boat as me, it’s OKAY! We all suck at jumping in the conversation about teething and school bullying. It’s alright, it’s cool. Go ahead and throw out those sarcastic responses that leave the room in cricket sounds. Don’t stop being YOU just because your friends have children. Be awkward. Make inappropriate jokes. It is fine!!
We all hit those phases in our lives at different ages, and I’ve come to the understanding that I’m not mature enough or ready to be in the stage yet. That is something that works on an individual basis.
So my dear, sweet friends. I’m sorry for all the really sarcastic comments I make about your kiddos……I do love them, I promise. I’m sorry when I teach them to do things you hate or laugh and encourage their naughty behavior. I am not a mom, I don’t know the struggle—and neither do any of your other single friends. We don’t suck, we’re just not there yet. And someday I know you will show me the ropes and make fun of all my parenting fails. You will be my best coaches, and for that, I am truly thankful. (:
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