The Philosophical Musings of a New Nana

"In the eyes of a child you will see...the world as it should be." ~author Unknown

My oldest daughter is growing a new little person inside her and naturally she has a lot of questions. This is her first baby, so everything she's experiencing now is new. Yesterday when she came home from class, she went to the fridge to find something to eat, all the while grumbling about being hungry all the time and everything giving her indigestion or heartburn. Hand on the refrigerator door, she turns to me and says, "Mom, is having a baby worth it?" I'm used to her easy questions, like "Do I look fat? (...which of course she doesn't) or "Is it safe for me to eat this?" Somehow, though, this question seemed extremely important...so I took my time looking for just the right words. Finally, I said to her:

"Parenting never ends. You worry about your child as much when they're grown as you did when they were little. Only, when they're little, you can boss them around to make them do 'right'. Once they're grown, ya just gotta let them do what they're going to do and hold them tight, be there for them when things go wrong. Being a parent is HARD...the hardest thing you'll ever do in your whole life. But trust me, it's worth it for those fortunate enough to experience it first hand. Why is it worth it? Because baby kisses are heart-melting, slobbery bits of pure J-O-Y! Because bedtime stories are just as much fun when you're grown-up as they are when you're a kid. It's worth it because parenting is a constant reminder of what a precious treat nap times and cookies can be. It's worth it because no other experience can truly solidify the definition of unconditional love for you when you have little arms wrapped around your neck that first time."

My daughter is going to be a wonderful mother...kind, patient, tender, loving and strong. It won't be easy, this path she's chosen for herself, but it will be worth it. I can't wait to meet the little person she's about to introduce to the world. And I am eager to shower him or her with hugs, kisses, and love, while marveling at the complete wonder of the Universe that helped create such a magical creature!