I was fortunate enough to meet the love of my life then, preceded by a very minimal number of relationships with total jerks/incompatible boyfriends. Right after getting married, probably owing partially to both our relative maturity and partially to (let's be honest) biology, we had the burning desire to become parents.
After the initial adjustment to pregnancy, I settled in and enjoyed it thoroughly, and toward the end of it I found myself feeling like "I totally got this". The Universe snickered and said (in a slightly maniacal Jim Carey voice) something like: Oh, feeling confident, are you? Surprise, you get to give birth five weeks early! Planning on breastfeeding, are you? Plot twist! You don't get to be with your baby for two weeks, and then he will be super sleepy for another two after he's home. Then his appetite will double instantly when he's done being a sleepy newborn recovering from his NICU time.
I get through all of this, and start to enjoy my happy big baby who sleeps well. And again, apparently having learned nothing, I go: I totally got this.
Universe: Well aren't you great at this parenting thing? But just wait. Your son is a brilliant child who comes with a side of a unique combination of challenges which means you have to become five different kinds of therapists. But I am sure you will do great!
So I take my regained humility and plug away at learning how to parent my exceptional little boy. Then I give birth to his little sister and she is an easy to please baby and undoubtedly neurotypical. And I fall into the trap again.
Me: "I totally got this! With all of my experience, how hard can it be?"
Universe: You are feeling confident again, that's cuuute. Maybe you forgot that your daughter is a feisty little feminist and you love that about her, but she is Montenegrin, German, Irish and Welsh (translation: the kind of stubborn that makes mules look like pushovers)... When she is not making your soul swell with pride and joy, she will be making you imagine yelling bad words and breaking things while you use your calm mom voice.
And so as before, having been knocked down a notch and braced for the challenge, I get philosophical and contemplate the never-ending cycle of torture, learning and love. I allow myself to wallow briefly before admitting I wouldn't have it any other way, then having a good chuckle at my own expense, because if you look at it from just the right angle, that is some funny shit.
