Thursday, April 25, 2013

Are Our Experiences Really That Different?


You've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times, pregnancy and motherhood is different for every woman. 

I think that's true, until it's not. 

I feel like most women tailgate their mothering advice with, "but it's different for everyone." Like it's some sort of caveat they know is false, but they don't want to pressure you into having the same experiences they did. 

I've noticed a tricky trend where women talk about the horrors of dirty diapers and midnight feedings, but their eyes don't scream HORROR. With every detail of the "Flu-venge of 2011" there's a memory tape that plays as they tell the story. And their reactions? Well, they're not horrified. They're comical. Endearing. It's like those memories come married to the cuddle sessions and "Mommy I wuv you's" that followed. 

I started reading Melanie Shankle's new memoir, Sparkly Green Earrings: Catching the Light at Every Turn. (Buy the book!) A friend got it for me as a gift and to be honest, it's a book I totally forgot I wanted to read! (You have those too right?)

But not only is Melanie freaking hilarious in her deliberations of pregnancy, preconceived notions, and motherhood, she loves everything about being a mother. It's as if I'm sitting in her living room, with coffee brewing, and she's spilling her guts about the good, the bad, and the ugly. I feel like every page of her pregnancy stories I'm cracking up and silently screaming, "Dude!!! ME TOO!" But her delivery? It's all good. It's all beautiful. 

Many of you know this way more than I do, that mothering is going to be the best thing I've experienced in my life so far. And there's a reason we scream, "Me too!" And I love it. I love it all. But just know I'm on to you ;)

I think we're all more alike that we think we are. 

Until of course, we're not. 


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The Girl that Sings blog isn't a mommy blog, but I do post updates, stories and topics of motherhood I'm discovering and others I'm wrestling through once a week on Thursdays if you care to enjoy and join the convo.
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