Tomorrow, one of my closest friends will give birth to twins: a boy and a girl.
What do you say to someone who is about to embark on the biggest journey of her life? What advice can you give when the only advice is trial and error? How do you prepare someone for something that has no owner’s manual or road map?
I can tell you that you will come to understand why sleep deprivation is a torture tactic. I can tell you that the screams will pierce your ears, yet break your heart. I can tell you that no matter how organized you think you are, you will never get out of the house on time. I can tell you that even though there’s two of you and there’s two of them, the game is never fair. Somehow you feel like you’re outnumbered and they’re always winning. Which means, of course, that you’re losing.
And lose it you will. There will be tears and meltdowns, and not always from the babies. But that’s okay. A wonderful friend of mine, who is also a mother of five, once told me “No one has ever died from crying.” So repeat that to yourself whenever you think the screams are going to send you over the edge. And yes, the mantra works even if you’re consoling yourself.
I could also warn you that the first coo, the first smile, the first hug, the first kiss… they will melt your heart. There’s nothing that can prepare you for the immense love you will feel every time you look at your babies. You will actually feel like the love is oozing out of you because your heart can’t contain it all.
And the fact that you’re getting two at once? There. Are. No. Words.
It is indescribable. And amazing. And life changing.
And you’ll know all about it this time tomorrow. 🙂
I am so excited for you, my dear friend. Those little babies don’t know how lucky they are.
Let the ride begin.
