what is it with new moms?

since i started working at the daycare, i have a lot of contact with moms at various stages of motherhood. some of my co-workers are moms of teenagers; one girl has a barely-one-year-old baby. i also deal with the mothers bringing their toddlers to daycare, and some of them also have babies at home (we only take 2 yrs and older). we have a volunteer that works on mondays and fridays, and she's due with her first baby in september.

i can handle the stories about the teenagers and the toddlers. who wouldn't have at least some complaints at those ages? my mom says "the terrible two's start at 18 months and last to 18 years." haha!! and, my girls drive me crazy sometimes with their fighting and hyper activity. it's just that lately i feel snappy when i hear the complaints.

so, this pregnant volunteer i mentioned... she's constantly saying "i wish she would stop kicking me!" or "it really sucks being pregnant." i get what she means. it's not a comfortable time when you're pregnant. she's almost exactly to the point i was with Carli. when i see her, i think about Carli, which i'm sure doesn't help my mood. i want to say "do you really wish she would stop kicking you? do you know what that would mean?" i want to say something to let her know the alternative... to let her know how much is sucks being pregnant one day, and then delivering a silent baby the next. but an outburst like that would make me seem... uh... crazy?

and then there's one of the moms at the daycare. she comes to pick up her son, and is constantly complaining about her daughter's health problems. her baby must be about 7 months old. she's not gaining weight, so the doctor suggested some special formula. and this woman acts like it's the biggest inconvenience ever. "oh, i can't wait to see how much this will cost me!"

i honestly do understand why these women complain. but... wow... losing a child puts all that trivial crap into perspective. a perspective i wish i never had. i almost wish i had a story to relate to them, and complain too. right about now i should be complaining that Carli is squishing my lungs. "ugh- i can't wait to deliver this kid and breathe normally again!" nope, that's not going to happen. the july i promised ray will be nothing like it should have been.