UNITED STATES—You sometimes have no idea how a baby not only changes a person’s persona, but their entire outlook on life. My sister recently had her second child, one that came a lot sooner than expected and watching her with her baby girl charms my heart. It’s funny because she was not due until August 3, but for reasons I cannot fathom Baby Tyler was ready to join our world.
My sister was joking she thought the baby might come 3 weeks early, this was on a Sunday while walking though the mall, come to find out 2 days later my sister was in labor and not many people had a clue. If I were to tell you I was surprised that would be an understatement. I was at work and I get a text from a number that I don’t know with a picture of a baby. The first thing that pops in my mind is 1) Who is this baby 2) Who had this baby? I soon discover that it was my sister who had the baby almost no one was aware she was in the hospital because she went into labor very early Tuesday morning. While unexpected, I believe my sister was very happy. 1) She gets to have her body back 2) She was ready for her daughter to arrive in the world 3) My niece now has a sibling, one that she has been dying for.
However, here comes the kicker: a baby changes everything. The entire notion of worrying about yourself is no longer a top priority because the child is now the focus. You have this fragile little being in your hands and you have to ensure that you do all in your power to protect them. This means holding the baby properly; so many people don’t know how to do this. You have to support the baby’s head and the back America. You have to feed it, you have to change its diapers, you have to nurture it, you have to love it, and it has to be your world.
You care about other things in life, but the moment you have a child those things don’t really matter. Your focus is on this new bundle of joy that is impossible for you to take your eyes away from it. I think the first 3 months of having a child will make me spiral slightly and I asked my siblings if any of it was normal. They said it’s normal to be a bit worried with your first child because you want to ensure everything is perfect. You want to ensure your child is eating and most importantly healthy.
Sleep, you can bid farewell to that for a few months, to be honest that may be the case for a few years. With a newborn they tend to sleep a lot for the first few months, but at the same time, when they awake you will indeed hear cries and screams from the bundle of joy. That crying is always a good sign as its alerting the parent the child has strong lungs. In addition, that crying is a signal of one of three things 1) They are hungry 2) They need their diaper changed 3) They want to be comforted.
The thing that shocks me the most about having a baby is the cost. Man, babies are expensive; there is no other way to get around that America. You think diapers and baby formula or food is costly, start to think about pacifiers, the bassinet, car seat, stroller, clothing, baby products, bottles, the list goes on and on. I mean I went to purchase bottles for my sister and I was floored by the cost. I mean a single bottle could cost $10 bucks! Just imagine if you were purchasing 3 to 4 bottles that’s $50 bucks gone and you’ll only be purchasing more as the weeks come.
I guess the thing this experience has taught me is that I cannot wait till the day comes where I become a parent. They say it is a life-changing event and from my experiences with my siblings and my nieces and nephews, I’m not worried about the sleepless nights, the crying and all the chaos that comes with having a child. If anything I’m looking forward to it, it’s a sign that I’ve matured more into adulthood and I’m prepared to tackle the biggest challenge that ever comes in life: raising a child!
