The Unexpected Within Motherhood

This week's Toddle Along Tuesday post is about what is unexpected with pregnancy or having a child. Feel free to link up!

I expected a lot with having a child. I expected no sleep, his needs before mine, no alone time, not being able to hang out with friends and all this other nonsense. Let me tell you now, I HATE how people perceive having children. Sure, I didn't get as much sleep as normal, but I still got plenty. My husband and I took turns helping through the night when he was a newborn. When my husband went back to work, I woke up during the night to help with Liam. However, once he was home for the night, he took Liam. Even after working all day, he still came home to help. I get plenty of sleep now, I still get alone time if I ever want it (my husband will gladly watch him), I can hang with friends with or without Liam; it's just all nonsense. Everyone makes you think having a child is so hard. I actually think it is easy in the most part. Ok, easy isn't the right word, but hopefully you understand what I mean. I am so blessed to have this little man in my life and I don't think it was hard with him at all, even as a newborn. Sometimes it's hard, sometimes I don't know what to do for him or what he wants. Sometimes he cries for no reason and just wants his mom and dad. Sometimes he is sick and just cries. It's not all easy, but it's also nowhere near what people think it's like.
One other unexpected part of having Liam is the fact that I lost a lot of friends. I realized that I knew things wouldn't be the same, but I didn't think everyone would leave me or be stupid. I always have to meet people somewhere just because I have Liam. You know how quick I could snap his car seat in their car?! Why waste gas for both cars when we could take one? Plus, Liam is well behaved. He is never acting out in public, he never cries in public unless he's hungry/thirsty. People give you that look, like 'oh no, here comes a mother and her child. I need to sit far away as possible.' Not all children act out or scream. Even if they do, most are babies, it's going to happen. It's not like they just tell you in words what they want. I just wish people would think twice about me and my life. I can still go have fun with Liam around. My friends love him; the ones who stuck around. Others are too busy I guess to hang out with me. I don't always have to have Liam around, but they don't seem to realize that.Oh well, I guess that's the price I pay for growing up and having my own life with my husband and Liam. Maybe some of my other friends need to grow up and realize that life isn't only about partying. I wouldn't change my life for the world.