Pre-Baby Life vs. Mommy Life
I was almost 35-years-old when I gave birth to Charlie, one year ago. So, I had a lot of years to establish a pre-baby lifestyle. For most of my 20’s, I was attending college and working full-time. I completed a Master’s program and started my career in the Tech World in my late 20’s.
During my entire 20’s and early 30’s, I spent much of my spare time going to the movies, hanging out with friends, going to happy hour, reading books, etc. Every weekend, I would go to a matinée, sit in the center seat of my favorite row, munch popcorn, drink soda, laugh, cry and enjoy a movie. I was never a picky movie-goer. I suppose I am easily amused. But, more than that, there was something about the anonymity of a dark theater that allows those of us who are uninhibited enough to attend a movie alone to feel very comfortable. (I was married during this time to my first husband, but he didn’t enjoy going to the movies…so I went alone.) If I wanted to go to happy hour with friends, I just went. If I wanted to read a book, I just read. If I wanted to go to a friend’s house, I called them up.
Having a baby doesn’t allow me to go to the movies and happy hour very often. It doesn’t allow me to lay down and read a book whenever I feel like it. It doesn’t allow me to basically do whatever I want, whenever I want. And yes, occasionally I miss the freedom that I used to have. But the reality is, I am happier now than I have ever been. My family is amazing. I love having people to come home to every night who love me and miss me and want to spend time with me. I would never want to go back to my pre-baby life. My husband, my son and my step-daughter are now everything to me. Even when I have spare time to do something alone, I am often thinking of them and missing them.
So mommies, when you’re thinking of your pre-baby life during those more difficult moments, just sit down and truly imagine life without your family.
-Sophia
