The "B" Word

Babies. This seems to be the topic my friends (not family) have been asking about most these days. I have my answer when the question is asked, because I feel blessed to be well informed on the subject matter.

"When are you guys having kids?" I realize this is a normal question to married couples, & I am fine with that. It is not that it is a bad question, it just seems that my answer is not always respected. To which I think, how is that anyone else's decision but mine & Chris'? When really, the simple answer "We are waiting" should suffice anyone and everyone.

That being said, I am SO happy for my friends & family who have babies & kids of their own. The fact that I get to be apart of their lives and their children's lives is an amazing gift from God. I am not writing this because I do not appreciate motherhood, I am writing this to hopefully stop someone from scolding me for postponing motherhood in my life. Yes, that has happened. And yes, it was ridiculous.

I was a nanny for four years combined, to five wonderful children between the two families I cared for. Not only can I make a homemade meal while bathing two kids & helping the third with homework, but I can make funny puppet voices, make excellent forts, and change a diaper with one hand while holding down a wailing child with the other.

I began babysitting when I was 13. I can't count the number of families for which I have watched their children! Next month, at the age of 23, I will have 10 years of experience with the little rascals, and I have loved every chance that I have had to take care of kids ranging from 3 months to 12 years old.

Not only does all of this precede me, but I also have a mother that taught me how to do everything from cooking & cleaning, to sewing & cross stitch (and these are just the homemaker skills, I wont even go into the backpacking & survival skills she has taught me). She is amazing, I can't remember a time where she has worked less than three jobs. I learned baking & knitting from my grandmother, another amazing woman.

My wish to wait to have children does not stem from the worry of "not being prepared." If this was the SAT, I'm Paul Allen. A baby is not a "thing" to me that I can dress up & decorate a pretty room for. If that is was how I viewed kids, I would have start at it tomorrow.

A child is a family member, someone I will love & care for, someday. It is a person, one that I am responsible for raising to be a respectful, kind, caring, productive, hard-working, individual who contributes positively to society. 

When I was little, I wanted to be many things, actually I still want to be many things, but most importantly, being a great mom has always been most important. I even have a "someday." board with ideas for when I am a mom someday (Check it out, it's pretty great http://pinterest.com/brio27/someday/).

I want to be a great mom, because I had a great mom. One who watched my brother & I all day, taught piano lessons in the afternoon, while finishing her Bachelor's degree, and did a paper route from 9 pm to 4 am, everyday. For years & years.

I admire both her & my dad's sacrifices and it is something that motivates me daily. However, that is not a position I wish to be in, and I know that my mom would back me up 100% on that. Although I would do it in a heartbeat just like she did if that's what life called for.

Right now I have career goals, I have savings goals, I have travel plans. If I get pregnant tomorrow will I be the happiest woman on this earth? Absolutely. Am I trying for this anytime within the next 3 to 5 years? Nope.

I am enjoying my husband, and enjoying working, and that's perfectly okay. Period.