Giving Up the Normal Life
Jennifer Garner is my new hero. On the Ellen show, she faced rumors concerning her “baby bump” with confidence, poise, and style. Smiling triumphantly, she said,
I do [have a bump]… I am not pregnant. I have had three kids and there is a bump. From now on ladies I will have a bump. And it will be my baby bump. And let’s all just settle in and get used to it. It’s not going anywhere. I have a bump; it’s name is Violet, Sam, Sera…
(you’ve gotta watch it) [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyCIfhOFewQ]
As I considered the whole New Year’s Resolution thing over the past couple of weeks, I realized a couple of things. Not only did I realize why I would not follow through with my resolution to keep the house clean, but I realized that with many of my ideas I was seeking to become something I’m not: childless.
Topping my list were:
- Keep a clean house
- Get rid of baby bump
- Be more structured and productive with my time
- Get more sleep
… basically, have the things I had before children. Rewind the clock and become the person I was 7 years ago before my skin stretched, my eyes sagged, and my mind got fuzzy.
But in a moment of peace – while stroking my son’s boyish hair and touching his delicate fingers, after one of his all out blood-curling, screaming, horrendous tantrums – I started wondering, do I really want to take back the last 7 years?
Am I so interested in erasing evidence of my pregnancy, my child rearing, my family that I would dedicate a year to those things?
