When my partner and I decided we wanted to have a child, it didn’t take long for me to get pregnant. At the time, I didn’t think, “How lucky!” but now, knowing the stories of the people around me, I should have.
There are two stories among my friends and family that have really touched me lately. Here they are:
A friend I feel like I’ve known forever and her partner can’t conceive naturally. So she has to go from one medical appointment to the next to prepare for artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization.
I so admire her courage and her determination to become a mom. She and her partner will be excellent parents. I’m sooooooo excited to see her baby bump, guess the baby’s gender, and share the joy of motherhood with her!
Then there’s another friend I used to gossip with—right in front of my crush at the time—who would tell me, “Yeah, yeah, he’s handsome and smart,” and who is now living with the love of her life, her partner (a surprise, but I’m so happy for her). They’re in the process of choosing a donor, and she’ll be the one who gets pregnant. Despite the distance and the years that have passed, she’s been very open about discussing the process and the costs associated with her future pregnancy, which, hopefully, will happen very soon.
I’m one of those people who said for a long time that I didn’t want children. Now that I’m a mom, I understand the magic of motherhood—what it means for a woman to bring a child into the world.
Every day, my daughter surprises me with her little milestones and her infectious good humor. I see life from a different perspective, and my values have shifted. I still find myself wondering what made me happy before I became a mom, because I’ve found true happiness through motherhood.
Of course, I wish these two friends all the happiness in the world, but I also wish them unwavering courage as they embark on the journey of starting their families, as well as patience, a positive attitude, and lots of love to help bring those little babies into their bellies.