I am not pregnant and do not have any children. But as of recently, it is a topic that I think about almost everyday. I feel like everywhere I go a woman is pregnant, or I’m hearing of a close friend trying to get pregnant, or there are kids running around. I am often asked if my husband and I have children, and I always answer with a “not yet, maybe one day” answer. The majority of my close friends have all had at least one child so far, and for the most part have all had them in their late twenties. As I have seen my close friends go though the duties of parenthood, I often think if I would like to do the same. Some days I think I’m ready; other days I look at parents around me and wonder how they do it!
I am going to be an aunt soon. For the first time in my life, I’m going to be an aunt. Sure, I am “Aunt Lindsey” to my close friends’ children, and I absolutely love and adore that title, but there is something else when it is your own blood sibling having a child. I will “officially” be an aunt, and I am ecstatic!
My sister and her husband have been happily married for five years now, and I never thought they were going to have children. Tara and Mike always seemed like they would possibly be open to adopting a child that really needed them, but never seemed interested in carrying their own. Tara would always joke and say that if a child randomly ended up in their backyard and needed a home, they would be more than happy to bring them in. As years went by and as their friends all started having one child, then a second, maybe even a third … they always just seemed content with life as it was, just the two of them. Fast forward to now, and my little nephew is due on November 11! Pregnancy has suited Tara very well. Not only has she felt good, lucky girl is all belly and has remained her skinny self everywhere else. It has been awesome to watch Tara and Mike embark on this journey toward impending parenthood; to think that they were never going to have kids and then now to witness how excited they are for this child is amazing. From birthing classes, to reading baby books, to baby showers, to getting the baby’s room ready, they have both been so involved and excited for their baby boy’s arrival.
As of now, I have no idea when my husband and I will be officially ready to start a family. However, in the meantime, I am going to be taking my new role as aunt very seriously and make sure that my nephew is the most loved little boy around.
Written by: Lindsey Balcazar is an account executive at Serendipity Media, the publishers of West Michigan Woman.
