You are not alone

From the moment you find out you are pregnant and you realize that your life will change (understatement), there's one thing that you don't really embrace until the life inside your womb starts to communicate with you. The feeling of "alone" starts to dissipate slowly as you see your baby bump grow and you nurture the body and soul for this new being. From the wiggles and kicks, to the hiccups and heartburn, you know and feel that you are the vessel for something that has not formulated opinions, or has likes and dislikes (well, sort of - just eat a spicey meal and you'll know whether baby is agreeable)...a tiny little soul who does not know the rights from the wrongs, but is just happy to know and see you.

For every moment of each day, you are responsible for this creature that God bestowed upon you to care for. Granted, in my pregnancy days, I did take for granted how much easier it was to be pregnant rather than being a parent. When you are carrying a baby, you don't have to concern yourself with packing up the house with diapers, wipes, food, bottles, etc., just to go out for the day. Your little packaged belly rides along with you and the need for an extra set of clothes, burp cloths, and toys just don't come into play - yet.

Outside of the womb, it becomes very apparent how often you are not alone. Your little one needs you for any number of things, and you happily oblige, even if it's to be repeated over and over again.

Some days, the workweek is considered my "alone" time. It's where I sort of turn off the parent brain and focus on what needs to be done for the day - in an office, with colleagues and an inanimate computer. But really, even there, are you really alone?

Today I had an interesting conversation with a friend who struggles with her alone time. She's a wonderful artist, and a parent, but is having a hard time enjoying her creativity as she struggles with her balance of parenthood and professionalism. No one ever said this was going to be an easy road. For those of you who thought it and are doing it well, kudos to you. I admittedly, even being as OCD as I am, understand how hard it is to have your alone time and eat it too. But if there's one thing that I'm learning each day is that you must find your alone time, if even for five minutes, to be able to embrace all that life throws at you.

My mom, who can be considered saintly as she birthed nine of us, said that the most important thing you can do as a parent is to take care of you first. Have your alone time and basque in those precious moments. For if you are not right and well, there's no way you can do right for your family.

I'm grateful to not be alone and should probably seek out more opportunities to not be so consumed with the day-to-day must-do's. But that would require another lifetime that is eating up my alone time now.