Parenting Australia

My First Mother’s Day

My first Mother’s Day was a complete non-event. Nobody let me down.  My hubby didn’t forget.  My daughter didn’t do anything wrong.  It’s just that she hadn’t arrived!  I was due about five days before Mother’s Day, and was looking forward to celebrating my first one with a newborn in my arms.  I really, honestly thought that I would be a Mummy by then.  Women usually give birth a couple of days before their due date or a couple after, right?

Wrong.  The 39wk mark came, and my obstetrician took one look at me, felt my bump and said, “See you next week.”  I was disappointed that he obviously thought the baby wouldn’t be arriving early, but still optimistic.  Then my due date came, and the only thing that arrived was my scheduled appointment.  I waddled in for my 40wk checkup, only to find my baby still not engaged and my induction was booked for another week later.  Somehow I STILL convinced myself that it would be fine, and she’d be here before then.

Wrong.  Again.  Mother’s Day arrived, and I was enormous.  It was a Sunday, of course, so my husband and I went to church as usual.  There were lots of special things for mums that day, but I wasn’t one yet.  I had such mixed feelings.  I should have been a Mummy!

It made me think about other women who might have mixed feelings on Mother’s Day.  Women who yearn for children of their own.  Mothers who have carried babies within them, yet never been able to hold them.  Women who grieve for children gone too soon.  I considered the perspective of other women, and instead of feeling sorry for myself looked forward to meeting my daughter soon.  I must admit that a little part of me secretly still hoped for the ultimate Mother’s Day present though!

Monday night, as planned, my husband and I calmly drove to the hospital late that night for my induction.  After some serious coercion our beautiful daughter finally arrived Tuesday afternoon.  We were parents at last, but it was another 363 days until I could officially celebrate Mother’s Day as a mummy!!

I now have two gorgeous kids and Mother’s Day is certainly a day I look forward to.  As I revel in sloppy kisses, love letters in childish scrawl, and a day of no nappy-changes and no cooking (thanks Honey!) I still remember my first pregnant Mother’s Day.  For me Mother’s Day is a day of joyful celebration, but I know that it isn’t for everyone.  I say a prayer for those who are sad, lonely or waiting... waiting... waiting for their first Mother’s Day to come.

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