What they don't tell you

When you announce that you are pregnant, everyone has something to say.  Usually right after the congratulations come warnings from well-meaning parents. 

"I puked the whole 9 months."

"Get the epidural.  Believe me you are going to want it."

"Get ready for your whole life to change."

"Sleep now because you'll never sleep again!"

"Get ready to start hemorrhaging money.  Babies are expensive."

"Free time?  I don't remember what that is anymore."

"Are you sure you're ready for this?  Kids are a lot of work."

All this is true, if not somewhat terrifying for the soon-to-be new parent.

But what they don't tell you is how amazing it is to nurture and grow a human being inside your own body.  To carry it and feel its little life expanding.  The little kicks and movements that are only known to you.  How  much beauty there is even amid the pain as you give birth to new life.  How a part of you is unlocked the instant that baby arrives and you enter into motherhood, a state that will indeed change you forever, for the better.  

They don't tell you how much your heart will expand with so much love for this tiny person that you don't know how it doesn't burst open.  They don't tell you about all the laughter and joy, and how wonderful it is to watch your baby grow and learn and become their own person.  How much fun it is to see the world through the eyes of a child.  How they become your whole world and you can't and would never want to imagine life without them.

Yes, parenting is hard, there are many challenges.  You will be stretched beyond what you thought yourself capable of.  You will have to give of yourself for the sake of your child, often when you don't want to or feel like you just can't give any more. But they fail to mention that all the difficult things, the hard things about parenting, every single thing is so worth it and you would do it ten times over for the privilege of being their mother.