Read Online From Here to Maternity by Sinéad Moriarty - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sinéad Moriarty
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it…
‘Well, I’m sorry to say that it’s true. I never could have imagined how wrecked I feel. My brain has turned to fuzz.’
‘Is it really that bad?’
‘Mind-blowing,’ I said. ‘Honestly, Lucy, I hate to be a bore, but it’s true what they say. Mind you, the fact that I’m pregnant as well probably makes it worse. I’m up at least three times a night with Yuri.’
‘Your pregnancy is just the best news. I’m so pleased for you,’ she said, hugging me again. ‘But you need your rest. Aren’t babies supposed to sleep all night after a month or two?’
‘Apparently, but I think he’s unsettled because he’s been transported to unfamiliar surroundings.’
‘Will he settle down soon?’ said Lucy, asking the exact question I wanted answers to myself.
‘No idea. But I hope so.’
‘What’s it like – you know – when you look at him and stuff? I mean, do you just think, Oh, my God, there’s my son, I couldn’t love him more. Is it really love at first sight?’
‘Between you and me, sometimes I want to send him back to Russia on a one-way ticket. Like at four o’clock this morning when he started crying for the third time and I was so tired I wanted to scream. But then he’ll smile, or snuggle into you, or sigh, or yawn, or just look at you in a certain way and, I swear to God, your heart just stops. It’s overwhelming.’
‘Wow. Donal’s mad keen to start trying,’ admitted Lucy.
‘Are you?’
Lucy shook her head. ‘Not yet. I want to enjoy our first year or two of marriage without the pressure of trying to get pregnant. I know I’m thirty-six and my biological clock’s ticking and all that, but I don’t feel ready yet. Besides, I’m not sure how I feel about kids. You know? Sometimes I think I’d like to have one, but other times I don’t. One would definitely be enough for me but Donal wants the bloody Von Trapp family.’
‘Well, don’t do anything until you’re ready. Take your time. Because, honestly, Lucy, once you start, before you know it, you’ll be consumed by it.’
‘That’s just it. I’ve seen Jess popping them out like a rabbit, and you had such a struggle and it took over both your lives. It took me a long time to meet my Mr Right and get married. I’d like to enjoy it before complicating it with children. Besides, my mother was pretty bad at parenting and my dad did a runner when I was five, so who’s to say I’d be any good at it?’
‘Lucy, no one’s born to this. From what I can see, everyone’s just winging it. I think I’m useless at it, but I’m hoping that I’ll get better as time goes on. You’d be a brilliant mother, but don’t rush into it until you feel ready. Tell Donal to relax.’
She nodded thoughtfully and I looked down at Yuri, who was merrily chewing on Lucy’s powder-pink suede Prada bag. He had dribbled all over it and bits of banana were stuck to the side. I reached into the playpen and grabbed it, which made Yuri bawl at the top of his lungs.
‘You’ll never want kids now,’ I said, handing Lucy her soggy bag.
‘Don’t be silly. I’d better go anyway,’ she said, backing out of the door and trying not to examine the damage to her bag in front of me. I waved her off, and sighed. I remembered well calling into people with kids and only being able to last about fifteen minutes before wishing I could leave. I’d have to meet Lucy at night in future. It was important to remember that just because I was besotted with Yuri it didn’t mean anyone else was.
When Lucy got home, Donal was back from training.
‘How’d it go? Is he gorgeous?’
‘Mmm, very sweet,’ she said, leaning down to kiss him.
‘Jesus, what’s that stink? I hope it’s not some new perfume.’
‘No, it’s the lovely scent of baby puke,’ said Lucy, grinning.
‘Ha-ha! Did he throw up on you?’
‘Oh, yes, and then he proceeded to eat my new bag.’ She waved the evidence at him.
‘He sounds like a great fellow altogether.
‘Well, I’m sorry to say that it’s true. I never could have imagined how wrecked I feel. My brain has turned to fuzz.’
‘Is it really that bad?’
‘Mind-blowing,’ I said. ‘Honestly, Lucy, I hate to be a bore, but it’s true what they say. Mind you, the fact that I’m pregnant as well probably makes it worse. I’m up at least three times a night with Yuri.’
‘Your pregnancy is just the best news. I’m so pleased for you,’ she said, hugging me again. ‘But you need your rest. Aren’t babies supposed to sleep all night after a month or two?’
‘Apparently, but I think he’s unsettled because he’s been transported to unfamiliar surroundings.’
‘Will he settle down soon?’ said Lucy, asking the exact question I wanted answers to myself.
‘No idea. But I hope so.’
‘What’s it like – you know – when you look at him and stuff? I mean, do you just think, Oh, my God, there’s my son, I couldn’t love him more. Is it really love at first sight?’
‘Between you and me, sometimes I want to send him back to Russia on a one-way ticket. Like at four o’clock this morning when he started crying for the third time and I was so tired I wanted to scream. But then he’ll smile, or snuggle into you, or sigh, or yawn, or just look at you in a certain way and, I swear to God, your heart just stops. It’s overwhelming.’
‘Wow. Donal’s mad keen to start trying,’ admitted Lucy.
‘Are you?’
Lucy shook her head. ‘Not yet. I want to enjoy our first year or two of marriage without the pressure of trying to get pregnant. I know I’m thirty-six and my biological clock’s ticking and all that, but I don’t feel ready yet. Besides, I’m not sure how I feel about kids. You know? Sometimes I think I’d like to have one, but other times I don’t. One would definitely be enough for me but Donal wants the bloody Von Trapp family.’
‘Well, don’t do anything until you’re ready. Take your time. Because, honestly, Lucy, once you start, before you know it, you’ll be consumed by it.’
‘That’s just it. I’ve seen Jess popping them out like a rabbit, and you had such a struggle and it took over both your lives. It took me a long time to meet my Mr Right and get married. I’d like to enjoy it before complicating it with children. Besides, my mother was pretty bad at parenting and my dad did a runner when I was five, so who’s to say I’d be any good at it?’
‘Lucy, no one’s born to this. From what I can see, everyone’s just winging it. I think I’m useless at it, but I’m hoping that I’ll get better as time goes on. You’d be a brilliant mother, but don’t rush into it until you feel ready. Tell Donal to relax.’
She nodded thoughtfully and I looked down at Yuri, who was merrily chewing on Lucy’s powder-pink suede Prada bag. He had dribbled all over it and bits of banana were stuck to the side. I reached into the playpen and grabbed it, which made Yuri bawl at the top of his lungs.
‘You’ll never want kids now,’ I said, handing Lucy her soggy bag.
‘Don’t be silly. I’d better go anyway,’ she said, backing out of the door and trying not to examine the damage to her bag in front of me. I waved her off, and sighed. I remembered well calling into people with kids and only being able to last about fifteen minutes before wishing I could leave. I’d have to meet Lucy at night in future. It was important to remember that just because I was besotted with Yuri it didn’t mean anyone else was.
When Lucy got home, Donal was back from training.
‘How’d it go? Is he gorgeous?’
‘Mmm, very sweet,’ she said, leaning down to kiss him.
‘Jesus, what’s that stink? I hope it’s not some new perfume.’
‘No, it’s the lovely scent of baby puke,’ said Lucy, grinning.
‘Ha-ha! Did he throw up on you?’
‘Oh, yes, and then he proceeded to eat my new bag.’ She waved the evidence at him.
‘He sounds like a great fellow altogether.
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