Monday, September 6, 2010

Adventures In Being A Grown Up.

The fact that I have a baby seems to freak out a lot of my non-baby friends. "I can't believe you have a baby! That is so weird!" Yeah, I hear that all the time.

But, truthfully, being a parent isn't as weird as you'd think. I remember when our dear friends Karlie (I'd link you to her blog, but she's exclusive.) and Ryan had a baby. "Is it weird?!? Is it weird?!?" I asked her. Her response surprised me. "Nope, it's very natural." At that moment, Karlie seemed so grown up.

Would you believe me if I said that being a parent is very natural? Me, who obsessively reads young adult fiction? Me, who has seen almost every spin off of "Flavor of Love?" Me, who dreams about "Baby Animal Days?" You don't have to believe me- it doesn't make it less true.

I'm 22. You may already know that, you may not. I'm a little insecure about it. Where I come from, it's all fine and dandy if you're 22 with a baby. But in 4 days, we're moving to a place where it might not be so common for a 25 year old and a 22 year old to have a baby. There are 9 people in Jeff's program at Stanford. How much do you want to bet that he is the only parent among them?

I'm not sure what my point is. I usually blog with a point in mind. I guess all I want to say is, I'm scared. This summer has felt like playing house. We've been living in Jeff's uncle's beautifully ginormous house. I play with the baby, Jeff goes off to work. But it hasn't been real. Adam is a lot of work, but he's still pretty little and I feel parenting so far doesn't require a lot of thought, just instinct. Jeff is working a job that he loves but we've always known he'd leave it. Life has been ideal, but it's been the calm before the storm.

We've got to grow up, and that's that.

Keep your fingers crossed for us. (Or is that too childish?)

Bah. Who cares?

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I was 22 when we lived in Virginia and Taylee was six months old. People would glare and look at me funny and it bugged me at first and then I thought who cares! I hope everything goes well for you guys-good luck!

Karlie Ann Ady said...

Preciate the shout out :) Everyone knew you'd be an awesome mom though! So, everyone in DC stops us to look at Dean! He totally warms people's hearts! Of course let's face it- birth control probably isn't on the priority level here that it is in Palo Alto...heck, out here if you haven't had a baby by 22 you're weird! Of course the fact we kept Dean does set us apart (not judging- just sayin lol). Point= Adam is so so so cute everyone will automatically love you more. Call us all the time!

Karissa said...

Don't you worry, California will be fun for you guys!! Plus, Adam is a charmer, so I'm sure people won't mind that you have a baby. You and Jeff have always been very good at making friends too, so that will work inyour favor. I sort of understand where you're coming from though. I feel like now that I'm graduated I should have some spectacular answer to give people when they say, "What are you doing with your life now?" But I don't. I'm just waiting around for a baby. I'm satisifed with that, but it doesn't seem to impress others that much. Just take comfort in the fact that you're doing what Heavenly Father would have you do. Love you. Good luck!

JaelandSteveThompson.blogspot.com said...

Dearest friend - *Its Jael.I'm so exited for your new change :) I too feel insecure about my age (first time ever)...because I'm currently working in an office where the students are not that much younger than I. Secretly I've been plotting cloth's that make me look professional(/older), rounding off my current age, etc. I'm Jeff age so I get sort of nervous of becoming a parent - but the older I get, the more natural its becoming. I think its normal for all of us to wonder how will fit in, etc. So thanks for posting about something that I think about but never really express it.