It’s a Friday evening and my plans for the evening include a few competitive games of Uno with my kids, pizza from Luna’s Pizzeria, and a couple of glasses of sauvignon blanc once the kids go to bed. It’s been a long week; shuttling kids to and fro in Houston traffic, managing and meeting work expectations, and delivering on other commitments. Tonight, I simply want to exist in my house without a thing to do next. Tonight is dedicated to the joy of missing out (JOMO), and that feels like something on my to-do list that I’m happy to check off as complete.
Oh, the consequence of pregnancy includes this delightful feeling of not needing to socialize or hang out. “Do you miss being carefree and going out on a whim’s notice?” I was asked in the early years after my duo was born. Easy answer – “NO!”. Having my kids is the period at the end of a chapter but not the end of the book. Consequently, these chapters with kids still include getting out of the house. However, it’s different, and different in a good way. Sometimes I’m out solo with a book, my favorite meal, and a glass of wine. Other times, I’m with my husband as we continue to fuel our relationship with laughs and a good time.
The consequences of pregnancy begins with recognizing limits. Recently, my husband and I were invited to a charity event on a Friday evening that was within walking distance of our house. It would have been a great night with friends, delightful conversation and laughs. Yet, we didn’t make it. Friday came, and with a busy weekend in front of us, we opted for the joy of missing out. While I was briefly disappointed that we couldn’t support a great cause and see friends we haven’t seen in a while, I took the evening to realize the adage, ‘charity begins at home’. Together, we watched TV and laughed at the endless antics of our duo.
Yes, this consequence of pregnancy is knowing ‘letting the good times roll’ can have a different meaning, and… it’s okay. Before kids, it was an easy decision to go out all dolled up and ‘drink and be merry’. It wasn’t FOMO, I was simply not missing out on the good times. I said ‘yes’ to as much as I could and enjoyed all the parties, clubs, concerts, events, and activities my budget could stand. In my current chapter of life with younger children, I celebrate being more discriminating with my time and make room for activities that are really important to me.
The consequences of pregnancy feels like it takes so much from us. Our bodies change, our opportunities to excel in our professional lives can be disrupted, and how we relate to our partners and friends all change in expected and unexpected ways. Yet, I’m here to say, the ability to re-prioritize and redefine my relationship with socializing and hanging out is a welcomed change. If you’re in this season with me, I encourage you to look at this chapter with joy instead of thinking about what you could be missing out on.
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