As I've been traveling around Paris I can't help but think about the similarities between being traveling and being pregnant.- There is so much prep work involved:
- With the arrival of a new human you need every new gadget that somehow our parents survived without. Luckily there is a baby shower for most of those things...
- Passports, visas, luggage, packing, toiletries, the list seems to go on and on. How about a travel shower?
- It is exhausting and uncomfortable:
- With pregnancy, your body is changing every which-way and anything that seems strange is considered normal, and after a certain point, sleep is not longer a viable activity.
- While traveling, you are crossing long distances, without sleep, in uncomfortable, confined spaces. When you do arrive at your destination, you find your bed has not made the arduous journey and it takes a few days to get use to your new surroundings.
- You have to learn a whole new language
- I remember the first time I to registered at BuyBuy Baby, the sales associate spent 20 minutes explaining the differences between the vast array of bottles and their many features. I thought there was one kind... and It turned out my kid didn't even like bottles. There are so many things to learn.
- As I am learning right now, everything is more difficult when you can't speak... and miming becomes invaluable.
- People may look at you funny
- You know what I'm talking about when your pregnant, its always that awkward "is she pregnant or just fat"... followed by the terrible need to make a comment about your appearance.
- With traveling outside the US, its the "They must be American" look. Luckily it hasn't been to bad here, but when I was in India a few years ago, I was the only Blond haired fair skinned person for miles and everyone stopped and stared. It was the weirdest experience! And being here, people tend to think we are French or at least Eurpoean... because what American's would be crazy enough to take a toddler on this crazy trip.
- You can't stop eating:
- I've always been a healthy eater, but when I was pregnant with my son, I wanted greasy burgers, cheesy mexican food and just protein rich foods all the time. I have never been so hungry in my life!
- I think today alone I had dessert with breakfast, lunch and dinner, and every snack in between. I've had at least 2 crepes everyday this week, and last night I enjoyed a nutella hot chocolate (or Chocolat Chaud avec du nutella)... with a gelato crepe of course.
- You forget the pain and do it again
- The lack of sleep, the discomfort, the financial drain and the frustration all fade away after time and that travel bug starts biting. You think of the sights left to see, the experiences left to enjoy and the excitement waiting, and everything else fades away.
- Its all worth it in the end
- I love my little boy more than anything in the world and can not imagine my life without him. The pregnancy was well worth the reward of seeing him learn and grow every day.
- The places I've seen have helped define who I am today. I love seeing new cultures and expereincing history everyday.
PS this post is not an announcement... I'm not currently pregnant.
Ha! This is so awesome.
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