It will change your life

I have shocked myself by becoming teary eyed reading that my friend's son turned 10 yesterday. You see, at this very moment, exactly 10 years ago, my firstborn entered this world. Everyone always told me that having a child changes your life. For some reason, I always thought they were being negative when saying that, meaning "you'll never be able to go to the movies again," or "you won't sleep for the next year at least," or "the crying, the whining, the diapers, etc. etc. etc. are going to be horrible". It never once occurred to me that what they really meant was that I was about to experience love like never before in my life. That, from this moment forward, I would never think of pregnancy as just 'pregnancy' again. I would forever be in awe that this miraculous being came from me, that he lives and breathes because of me, that he grew from a tiny microscopic egg into this baby, and now into this 10 year old young man...all because Charles and I fell in love and created him. It never occurred to me that people meant that from that day, 10 years ago, forward a blue sky would never be just a beautiful blue sky again. It would be a "wonderful day to go to the park". Clouds wouldn't be clouds; they would be dragons and dinosaurs and Godzilla characters. Bugs and lizards and frogs would be creatures to study and capture, not things to avoid or kill. Sticks and rocks would be amazing gifts from God to be played with and thrown. Not once did it occur to me that they meant I would now have this incredibly powerful force to keep myself safe...because my kids need me. No, I was wrong in my assumptions that people were "warning" me about motherhood. They were trying to share with me the concept of a feeling that one can not understand until they have experienced it. Having a child will change your life. You will love like never before, feel pride you never knew possible, laugh more than ever, live for the simple things in life, and feel an all encompassing desire to protect this little person from anything and everything that can hurt them, and cry your eyes out when you realize it isn't always possible.

10 years ago today this all happened to me and my life hasn't been the same since. Chad was born.
He was my "millenium baby" and really spoiled me into thinking that babies were a piece of cake. He slept through the night at 5 weeks old, nursed like a champ, rarely cried, and was just as easy as could be. That's why, when he was 5 months old, we decided to give him a brother. But that's a story for another day. Chad's babyhood was peaceful and beautiful. Shortly after his 1st birthday Carter was born. Chad was a great big brother. He loved Carter and was gentle with him. He shared his toys and his snacks.
Shortly before Chad turned 2 we moved from Fort Stewart to Grovetown. He now had a big yard to play in and a bigger house to roam in.
He started going to Mother's Day Out and made friends easily. We joined a playgroup that we are still great friends with today. He went to pre-K at the age of 4 and really blossomed as a smart and kind little boy. School has always been easy for Chad and, aside from a random B, has always made straight A's.
He is incredibly logical. He can almost always win me over to his side, and has done so from an early age. I think he was about 3 years old when I realized he was smarter than me. :) He is in 4th grade now and won the writing competition for his grade level at his school. Today he competes in the Math Tournament for 4th grade and is in the final 4. Yes, I am proud. He is a Cub Scout and loves soccer, basketball, and fishing. He has an entreprenurial spirit and is good with his money. He still snuggles with me and gives me hugs. He is 10. I can't believe it.