The things they don’t tell you about having a baby

First up, this title is kind of a personal joke. While I was pregnant, my partner and I heard time and again, (smugly!), oh you just have no idea what is about to hit you.

It always irritated us because we felt like replying: we never said we did! We’re doing our best here!

In reality, though, everyone goes on so much about the sleeplessness, the excrement and the washing that I think you do actually feel quite prepared for that. (Okay, if I’m honest, the amount of laundry did take me slightly by surprise.)

There’s one experience, however, that no-one ever thought to mention – and which I would’ve liked to have heard more about.

And that is how much joy your baby will bring into the lives of the random people with whom they cross paths.

A year of big smiles

As our beautiful bub approaches his first birthday, we’ve naturally been reflecting on the huge year we’ve had.

Swiping back (and back and back and back!) through the iPhone to those first pics swathed in hospital blankets.

Recollecting the hours (and hours and hours and hours) spent trying to put our baby to bed, before we finally gave in and instigated a strict sleep routine.

Recalling the coffees (and coffees and coffees and coffees) I’ve shared with mum friends as we pushed our prams through the seasons – our summer-born bubs first in singlets, then zipped into Bonds Wondersuits, then layered up ridiculously in beanies and cardies.

But what I’ve loved most are the smiles. As my bub transitioned from a baby to a walking, interacting toddler, his smiles became frequent, erupting, effervescent rays of sunshine. His laughter is like an irresistible force that sweeps you up and makes every bad day better.

Everywhere we go, when we arrive with bub, people’s faces light up. At our two local cafes they know him by name. The waitresses come over for cuddles. They bring him toys. They wave to him and he benignly bestows all and sundry with his greetings.

Sitting in the trolley at the supermarket he cheers up tired-looking shoppers with a toothy grin. Exploring his legs, he ambles over to customers at a coffee shop and inserts himself into their conversations.

In swimming class he endears himself to the teacher by squealing with delight as she splashes him with water. And as we wait on the side of the road at traffic lights, he peers out from his pram at his fellow pedestrians, studying them intensely.

Everything he does and everywhere he goes, he makes someone happy.

What a gift.

And that’s something nobody told me about having a baby.