“I’m scared,” she said. Her hand in mine as we walked into school for the first time. “It’s OK to be scared,” I whispered into her ear, “I’m here with you.” It was scary as her mom, watching my baby walk into a class of peers, leaving me for the first time. She now seemed so grown up. Goodness. How did that happen?
* * *
“I’m scared,” she said, leaning over the side of the birth tub, squeezing my hands. I cradled her head and whispered in her ear, “I’m here. Your midwives are here. You spouse is here. You’re in good hands.” She had been laboring beautifully, the textbook example of birth. And yet, this was all so new. Unlike anything she’d ever done before.
* * *
Often the most exciting first steps are also a little scary. But the parent’s job isn’t to remove fear, smoothing the path, removing the bumps and road blocks, but rather walking through the journey holding her hand. I’ve learned in just my few short years of being a parent that as much as I may want to help her, I have to let her make her own journey. And scared as she may be, I have to encourage her to experience her own growth.
I can’t do it for her, but I can cheer her on her way.
Only you can birth your baby. I can’t do it for you, but there is no reason you would have to walk the path alone. Hand in hand, you can give birth to your baby. You can do this, and I am honored to be witness to your journey. It’s natural to be scared. But you don’t have to feel alone.
