Thoughts on pregnancy and parenting

Hello Everyone,

Legally, I'm not a parent yet, but it's close enough to the wire that by the time you read this, that status might have changed. I do, nonetheless, have some thoughts on being a parent and the process of getting there:

I'm pro choice, but I agree with those who are not on one point: birth isn't the dividing line between being a parent and not. Some of us become parents before the conception of our children. Some never attain the rank, no matter the age of their children.

A significant portion of parenting seems to consist of loading and unloading stuff from the car.

The first time you feel a kick in your partner's belly is magic. Watching bulges move across that same belly a few months later is freaky as hell.

We often don't know which of the skills we have developed over the years will come in handy in pregnancy and parenting. My years of being a big eater have prepared me to deal with the hunger that continually surprises Emilie. Suffice to say, we use my judgment when deciding how much food to prepare. Trust me, it won't go to waste.

One of the disadvantages of being older parents is that you've had the opportunity to meet a bunch of jerks and assholes, which instantly ruins their names as options for the baby. Also, in our case, siblings have already used the best family names

One of my favourite writers said that becoming a parent made him more pro choice. Having witnessed childbirth, he said, reinforced the idea that no one should be forced to go through it against their will. I've experienced something similar. I've always believed in the need for a robust social safety net, but going through this process has demonstrated just how critical it is. At the best of times it's a terrifying process. No one should go through this and have to worry about missing work, buying groceries or paying rent.

Wes

Photos