After four years of struggling to conceive, I can say without hesitation that Charlotte was worth the wait. She is exactly the baby we were meant to raise together and makes our family complete (for now). She is the answer to many prayers and every time I look at her little scrunched up face, I am reminded how lucky we are to have her in our arms.
I have heard people (a member of my extended family even) comment on "our generation" and how selfish we are for bettering ourselves, particularly women, rather than having children right away. Times have changed, women no longer are expected to put their careers and education aside to be a mother and wife (unless they want to). For the first time, now that I'm a mother, I understand why a parent might want to be a stay at home parent. But let me be clear: my education and career have shaped me into the mother that I am. I am confident. I am strong. I have a solid understanding of child development and typical development. I have spent years caring for other people's children, perfecting the craft of loving and caring for children, so that one day (this day), I could love my child perfectly and completely and trust in my knowledge, experience, and intuition. So to those folks who think that a 30-year-old woman is "selfish" for waiting (even though I wasn't waiting intentionally -- damn you, infertility), I have a strong and clear message:
I have heard people (a member of my extended family even) comment on "our generation" and how selfish we are for bettering ourselves, particularly women, rather than having children right away. Times have changed, women no longer are expected to put their careers and education aside to be a mother and wife (unless they want to). For the first time, now that I'm a mother, I understand why a parent might want to be a stay at home parent. But let me be clear: my education and career have shaped me into the mother that I am. I am confident. I am strong. I have a solid understanding of child development and typical development. I have spent years caring for other people's children, perfecting the craft of loving and caring for children, so that one day (this day), I could love my child perfectly and completely and trust in my knowledge, experience, and intuition. So to those folks who think that a 30-year-old woman is "selfish" for waiting (even though I wasn't waiting intentionally -- damn you, infertility), I have a strong and clear message:
This child is perfect.
She is mine.
She is exactly who I was meant to mother at exactly this moment.
And she will know love.
I love this post :) Even though I don't have a child yet looking back I can't imagine having a child at a younger age. I know I will be such a better mother now than I would have been at 25.
ReplyDeleteThis is soo true!! I am a stay at home mom now and I couldn't be happier. Raising Noah will be the best job I could ever find. Yes, it has it's moments, but I wouldn't trade it for the world! Our babies are blessings, perfect little blessings just for us!! Definitely worth the wait and pain!
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