embrace the change.

All the books that you get on parenting are pretty much all focussed on how you can go about a 'normal' life like before the baby was born. It tries to make your life convenient. Well guess what. Life just isn't 'convenient' any more. Suck it up. Try to spend time with your baby rather than just chucking them aside in a cot to scream for hours just because some book tells you to - because you can't let a baby 'take over' your life. Can you!??

But it's interesting also to note how a baby changes the people around you too. Some want to become closer to you - babies have that affect. They are adorable and cute and fun. The funny thing about Indonesian culture is that when a baby cries, there's no feeling of instant anxiety. Often Indonesians will laugh when a baby cries. "oh so lucu" they say (which means funny).

I have been reading a fantastic book and it is really liberating. It talks about rejoicing in these young years of your babies life, rather than trying to look for answers and stressing about what the experts say.

But back to your baby changing your relationship with people. Suddenly you go into a new life stage. Whether you like it or not. For crying out loud I bought a sewing machine and I am finding joy in cooking. I get excited by pyrex and tupperware.

My friends are jet-setting across the world and use the words "oh we're so different now". I feel left out because I can't just go out like I used to to a movie or club (but let's face it, I was in bed at 10pm on a Saturday night anyway before I had a baby).

I live a fair way away from a lot of friends. I have some FANTASTIC friends, may I add, who travel miles to see me. I am so grateful for these friends. But then there's others who tell me my house in the suburbs is too far away from their apartment for me to visit. Yet they seem to 'tag' themselves on facebook in every restraunt, every everywhere right across the city. They are driving past to a weekend away and the freeway literally is right next to my house. I guess I shouldn't put energy into such friendships who see me as not worth it. But I'm a real person. I am hurt. I see their face on Facebook at this and that event and I just want to unfriend them every. bloody. time. because I feel so hurt by them. Yes, I'm in a different life stage. I still value friendship. I still treat people nicely. I still always seem to put the needs of others first. Am I not worth the bloody effort? Was our friendship that bloody shallow that a baby changed it? Ramble.

But back to the rejoicing. Life has changed and I have no say in it. I'm not going to fight it. I'm going to embrace it.

And for the best part of it, I have made so many new friends that I wouldn't have made without having my beautiful baby. They're even Indonesian!

And the even better part - I have Luke. And I have a husband who treasures an early night in as much as I do. Priceless.