Am I Ready To Be A Parent?

I’m not sure if this is normal. (I mean what is normal, really?)
But since I’m turning 29 this month, I frequently find myself Googling “Am I ready to be a parent?”

Sometimes I lay awake at night and type it in. I’m probably hoping some amazing article from a reputable source will pop up with a quiz that tells me EXACTLY what year, what month, what day we’ll feel 100% ready. Maybe I should just check for that one more time…

These days my news feeds are full of babies, bumps, cribs and ultrasounds. And most of these chicks are (gasp) younger than me. Heck, some of my former classmates are on their second or third by now.

But kids are such a huge step!
And my 20’s have been so glorious.
Also, I still look like I’m 15!

The Awkward Holding Spot

No one tells you about this awkward spot when you’re quasi-newly married.
After getting married, many of your single friends will feel as though they can no longer relate to you. They assume you’re busy all the time. You stop getting calls and invitations.

But it’s also pretty hard to relate to young couples that already have kids. So the rest of us crowd into this awkward holding spot while we wait for our fates to be defined by whether or not we have offspring.

The holding spot is fine for now. I think there are a lot of things Cole and I still want to do that would be a lot more difficult with a mini-me. We’ve just now found a great groove as a married couple. We’re working a lot. We’re trying to pay down debt. But how long do we wait?

I want my kids to actually know and grow up with their grandparents. I want to be able to retire at the first chance when they leave the nest.

Celebrate The Season.. It’s Different For Everyone

I think it’s easy to feel like we’re missing the mark on where we should be in life.
Like we have to get started or everything will pass us by.
And I don’t mean that just regarding kids, but in terms of relationships, career, finances, etc.

But maybe there is a different time and season for everything under the sun.
And maybe your time and your season will be different from everyone else’s.
My age is not the one defining factor of where I ought to be in life by now.
It’s different for everyone.

I’m definitely excited to be a parent.
I’m excited for the day that we have a little one to push around in a baby stroller.
I’m excited to teach someone how to walk and talk. I’m excited to put their hair in little afro puffs and laugh at them when they cry about nothing.
But that day is not today.

It might be later this year, but it might also be three years from now.
And that’s okay. Life is not a race.

Am I ready to be a parent?
Maybe and maybe not.
But when it’s happening, I’ll let you know.