Sitting up, smiling, saying Da-Da: these are milestones that we, as parents, wait for with breath bated and cameras charged.
These are the things we anticipate from birth, and endlessly compare with our other parent friends. But these are not the only firsts in a new family’s life, and they are not even the most significant. The really iconic milestones after baby is born are not generally written about in the baby books, and they are not even limited to babies: new parents go through a lot of firsts as well.
These are the firsts that nobody warned you about, but are universally experienced; the firsts that test a parent’s mettle and the boundaries of polite conversation. These are the firsts that you won’t have to write down, because unlike those first smiles and first words, you’ll never forget when these firsts happen.
Just try not to be out of the house, or in the line of fire.
“What was that? Did you hear something? Is the baby crying? Oh, just forget it.”
Don’t be upset when your friends are laughing at your naivety.
If you’re really lucky, your father-in-law will be your first accidental “audience.”
You will wonder why you were so excited for your baby’s mobility to develop.
The freezer aisle never felt so warm and welcoming.
It takes a while, but eventually the conversation will not be about your kids.