The Kindness of Strangers

Recently, it seems like I've been writing a gazillion posts about super-heavy and/or difficult things. And while I'm a huge proponent of letting yourself experience your emotions, and have been consciously trying not to shy away from emotionally challenging topics, there's been plenty of sunshine in my life, too!

Baby Girl is basically the bright center of the universe right now, with Jeff a close second. While the third trimester of pregnancy is not without its challenges (e.g. getting up from a sitting position, sitting back down again, zipping my dresses on my own, walking more than a few minutes without ligament pain under my giant belly, false contractions, and so on), I can't help but grin like a fool whenever I think about our growing family.

Since I started visibly showing, I've noticed something really lovely: people get super excited about babies! It feels like everywhere I go, people are wishing me well, or asking about the baby, or congratulating me. I think my personal favorite interaction was when Jeff and I went to the liquor store to buy a celebratory bottle of wine for him, and as I was carrying it out, one of the guys working there congratulated me on the baby. It was the classiest moment of my whole life. But I digress, slightly.

I realize that I've been lucky in my pregnancy-related interactions with others. I haven't had random strangers grabbing my belly, nor have I received much unsolicited parenting advice or childbirth horror stories. And only a few people have commented on how big the baby is going to be. This is good because those comments can feel a bit like a dig at how much weight I've gained, even if they're not intended that way at all.

It touches my heart so much to see all the kindness with which people react to my pregnancy. And I think this is because it reminds me of how much people have in common, and of the general goodwill that most people are capable of carrying for one another. Most people, I believe, can appreciate the untrammeled potential and hope that a baby represents; most people are gladdened by seeing someone else's joy.

Dress: vintage

Shoes: Gap

Belt: Doll Me Up

Bangles: Splendette

Earrings: Atomic Lucite

Hair flower: Daisy Jean Floral Designs

So while I've been thinking a lot about the worst tendencies that unhappiness brings out in some people, I need to keep reminding myself that most people aren't out to tear others to shreds. It's hard not to get hung up on unkind actions that go beyond the pale of acceptability, but those are the exception, not the norm, in my life. As my dad would say, I have to keep the upsetting, infuriating, and objectionable things that happen in perspective. And as I'm entering the home stretch of an uneventful pregnancy (at least in terms of our health), I've got to remember that I have many more blessings to count than I do afflictions, and (hopefully!) many more ahead.

Follow this blog on:

Instagram: @emily.hallock

Twitter: @ThoroughlyMLE

Facebook

Google Plus

Bloglovin'