They Didn't Tell Me....

When I was pregnant, my loved ones and friends who already had children neglected to tell me a few minor details. They were very forthcoming with "ooohhhs" and "ahhhhs" and "Damn, you are huge!" comments, generous with gifts and advice - some of which, had I used, would have had CPS called on me. Seriously, rub a spoon on a teething baby's gums to break the skin???? Why don't I just stab them with it while I am at it.

No one mentioned that I would be changing Rotovirus diapers in the bathtub, no one told me that my son would sneeze snot rockets onto his toast and tell me that he "buttered" it. Sure, I knew that there would be dirt, mud, snot, grossness, but the specifics I had no idea about.

It was never mentioned that it would be possible for my son to have a seizure, turn blue, call 911 and scream "I need and ambulance" just like those dumb women I used to laugh at on TV did, ride to the hospital while holding a 15 month old sick little boy, watch his be poked, prodded, catheterized, and not shed one single tear. I was calm and collected. Until we got home.

No one told me that I would drag my 3 year olds to the back door, and stand in the pouring rain just to show them that it is not going to hurt them so that they would stop screaming and go to sleep.

I was not made aware of Post Partum Depression until I packed a bag and damn near left my newborn twins and husband because I was afraid I would throw them out of the window.

It was never mentioned the amount of love I had the capacity to have and give. Nobody told me that my eyes would be opened to things that I took for granted before kids. The wonder of frogs, worms, mud puddles. The happiness that a simple hug can bring.

I am fairly sure that if people had told me all of the bad things about having kids, I never would have had them. And I would never have known the joy they bring.