The strong community, support of parents

I’ve continued on the train of learning new things.

 

The parent magazine I work for is currently working on putting together its “Everything Baby” edition, where the magazine is just filled with stories and resources about pregnancy and newborns. 

 

As I put together the resource guide filled with information on adoption, birthing centers, parenting classes, fostering, breastfeeding, and more, I just can’t help thinking: Do these readers know they are receiving information about pregnancy and babies from an unmarried, childless 22-year-old? I just think it’s slightly ironic. 

 

One mom I interviewed asked me how old I am and whether I have any kids. “You sound young,” she commented, since we were chatting over the phone. She went on to ask how I became involved with a parenting magazine. I explained I completed a journalism major and when I went job hunting, this particular magazine was one of very few in the area that was hiring. While the majority of the people at the company I work for are indeed parents, it’s funny that out of the five editors writing stories, only one is actually raising children: We go to her for all our easy parenting questions. 

 

But news reporters don’t have to “live” everything they write about. We don’t have to be firefighters to write about a fire, for example. I work to provide accurate and helpful information to the magazine’s readers — I get information directly from parents and parent resource centers, and I do extensive Googling. 

 

While the idea of physically birthing a child still scares me at this age, I do find myself in awe just at the sheer number of resources available for moms and parents with newborns and growing families. Anything from different styles of birth, to classes, to postpartum grief and support groups — if a parent is struggling, there’s someone out there to help. It’s a nice thought. 

 

Even a lot of the parents I’ve ended up talking to for the magazine have started businesses themselves aimed at helping parents and being a resource and place of support. The parenting community is tightly knit, I’m learning. Or maybe I just think that because I am so invested in it and constantly work to learn more about it. 

 

Anyway, it hit 80 degrees here last week, so I’ve been trying to spend more time working outside. Thankfully, our apartment has numerous areas where one can enjoy the sun and still be connected to WiFi. It honestly seems outrageous that it’s already so hot, but I guess I won’t complain too much. Although I can’t help thinking these warm days aren’t as uplifting as the first warm days in Minnesota that bring hope with the new sunshine. They’re like coming out of a winter cave and being able to stretch your legs and kiss the sun. Here, I just enjoy a warm day. 

 

My Determination: “I would keep her, and raise her, and love her, even if she had to teach me how to do it.” ― Vanessa Diffenbaugh, The Language of Flowers