Seven months on

Last week I met a dear friend for lunch. She was exhausted from her flight that morning and yet, when my food was served, I  unceremoniously handed over my baby to her and freed myself up to attack my steaming plate of risotto. My friend cautiously took my baby and nervously rocked her as I devoured my food and gulped sipped on my gin and tonic. In between mouthfuls, I conversationally told her about working on an email that morning with my baby in one arm and typing with my free hand. She grinned and told me that tales like this is the best contraceptive for her - at least she can have a meal in peace.

I did not know what to say to that. Well, obviously having a baby means one needs to work schedules around him/her. It means having to hold a baby through day to day routines (I have now mastered the art of brushing my teeth, pee-ing, eating while holding the baby). It means never missing the vaccine schedule and monitoring formula supply. The list is quite endless. But those are the things that are quantifiable. It is easy to identify and list  the limitations on personal freedom and the financial stress of having a baby. 

However, it is so much more difficult to communicate the joys of parenting. To watch a tiny human being learn the ways of the world. To flex its muscles, explore and discover the wonders of life. 

It was a bad year at my firm and bonus announcements were poor. As glum faces huddled in corners in office, I could only mentally picture  the scene from that morning - my little ones' face screwed up with the effort of raising herself to a sitting position and then balance herself on her tiny bottom before toppling over. 

Ever since IT installed a program on my computer that allows me to view my baby's antics through the cameras in the office creche, I cannot sit through 5 minutes of work without switching the window on my laptop. 

Do I want to eat in peace? Of course! And I bless my friends and family who pitch in to let me enjoy meal times or even take a shower. But at the end of the day it is not really  a burden. The love and laughter that the little ones bring with their innocence and unadulterated emotions to a home lifts the weight of all these little sacrifices and makes it all a part of the wonderful journey of parenthood.