Pregnancy From A Child’s Point Of View
One of the joys this past Thanksgiving was being able to share this pregnancy journey with our nieces and nephews. I know they have been waiting and praying for a cousin, so for them to “see” their baby cousin, was something I couldn’t wait for! I have to say, it was one of the most memorable moments of this pregnancy thus far. They helped me realize even more so, how intricate a pregnancy really is. How through a child’s eye, a baby is just like any other human – their value, as equal as ours. An embryo just as important as a grandma. They asked questions that I would have never even thought of! Questions that sure made me chuckle, but questions and smiles that I will take with me forever. So please sit back and enjoy hearing about a pregnancy from a child’s point of view:
Of course Auntie Kristin looks a little different – her basketball tummy only demands the comment “you have a baby in a there” as snickers and giggles, with ear to ear smiles cross their faces. Fire helmets shoved up shirts to mimic my tummy. The realization that their new baby cousin is in there, but the eagerness being shown as they tell me that they “wish she was here right NOW”. But quite possibly the most reassuring statement about her growth? As he pats my stomach, my nephew says “you have a big fat tummy” and with a big smile again says “you have a tiny baby in there!” Really, that is amazing at the size of the stomach versus the child, but even more so, that there IS a baby – a HUMAN in there! Best comment I have received thus far! As a child, can you imagine what their minds must be thinking?
Then in continuing conversations with my nieces, we sat for a good while, talking about their new baby cousin. Of course they “want to know the name” – but a secret it is! So being as smart as they are, they start trying to guess what letter it starts with – do you ever remember doing that? Pretty slick thinking, I think! As they huddled around and sat on my lap, I told them that she is a mover, so what do they do to try and get her to move? Put their faces right up against my stomach say “wake up baby!” And when she doesn’t, a confused look. Now as a child, if someone put their face up by yours, wouldn’t you wake up? Brilliant idea, right?
Now when you are young, some of the most important things to remember are “snacks and taking baths”. They wondered how she ate because I told them that what I eat, the baby eats. That made sense, but then the innocent thought of “swallowing soap to wash the baby when it gets dirty in there” is almost one of those “duh” moments as a child – why wouldn’t I do that? I explained to them that when she’s inside of me, that she doesn’t need a bath, but will need one when she comes out. But then “why would she need one when she comes out versus when she is inside of me?” The best answer I could come up with was they wanted her nice and clean for when we could hold her, so that she had a fresh start.
But if she needed a bath, “would her clothes be dirty when she came out?” I explained that it was so warm inside my tummy that she didn’t need clothes, but would get some when she came out so that she wasn’t cold. Just like dolls, why wouldn’t you dress them? “Why would they come out with no clothes on?” A legit question, wouldn’t you say?
And then the question came up – “how does the baby come out? Like where on your body does it come out?” Stumped. As I looked over at my sister, she gently explained that God creates a special place for the baby to come out, but only out of girls. I am glad she was there as I sat dumbfounded, wondering how I was going to get myself out of that one!
And finally, they realized that they wouldn’t be able to see their baby cousin for a little while because “she would have to go to the hospital” meaning that I have to spend a few days in the hospital, but in their minds, it’s the baby. Is that not adorable?
Out of the mouth of babes – innocent questions from children that make a pregnancy even MORE miraculous. Questions that a child, out of faith, asks, knowing that they are fed, bathed, and clothed when they need to be, so how does a baby inside a tummy get the same treatment? These questions I hold so near and dear to my heart, as they were conversations I will always remember. Pregnancy. Really, what a miracle it is, as these questions only solidify the beauty of how God and grows a little one inside.
Oh how I can’t wait for them all to meet their baby cousin! What a day it’ll be!
