Thursday, December 5, 2013

The Story of Us

I've started this post ten bazillion times in my head and finally I just set an alarm for thirty minutes and made myself start. I figured thirty minutes is enough time to get started but not so long that I get scared.



Why hesitant?



Because this is the story of Clay Lucas.



You see, I've been wanting to share the rest of our story for awhile now but I wasn't sure how much I wanted to share and if I would want Clay to read all of the details when he got older and let's be honest, some of you will probably judge me.



But I've decided to share.



Why?



Because Clay is starting a new daycare and I was filling out forms when I came to this question:





Uhh... We aren't together. We aren't separated. We aren't divorced. I guess that leaves other, but what do I put there? Friends raising a baby? There certainly isn't enough room for the whole story.



2011



Without getting into the dirty details, Mike and I saw each other a lot this year. In November we had a "visit." (Oh, gosh. Judge me for writing "visit.") Anyway, a couple of weeks later my other visitor was late so off I go to the grocery store. I guess I should just stop and say that I just had a feeling I was pregnant from a couple of days after so I was watching that calendar like a hawk. Anyway, I take the test, go back in and see only one line.



Woohoo!



But wait, I look closer...is the second line supposed to be a very very very faint line.



Umm, no, Jessica, it's not.



So I immediately text my three closest friends at the time (two of which are guys) and from that moment I knew I would never be alone in this pregnancy. Rhonda, Brian, and Troy were just three of the friends who stood by my side and are now an Aunt and Uncles to Clay (and Brian is Clay's godfather).



This is the part where I have to stop and majorly brag on all of my friends. Especially Amy and Liz. Amy was there from my first doctor's appointment to the delivery room and Liz walked with me, we started our blogs together, and she helped me organize, go tour daycares, and throw an Olympic party (very important)!



So there I was. 26 and pregnant. Living in a city with no family. Not even sure what Mike would say, let alone how involved he would be.



So I told Mike. The day after his birthday. Happy birthday! Right... Anyway, he was shocked to say the least.



I knew I would keep this baby and raise it. I've wanted nothing more than to be a mother someday since I was little. You might think I'm crazy, but I think that's what God put me on this earth to do. Yeah, I have a job, but my career is being a mother.



Okay, I got sidetracked. Like I was saying, I knew this baby would be mine. I knew it would be hard but I was going to do it. At this point I had no clue what Mike's involvement would be and to be honest, I don't think he knew. We weren't together and we weren't going to try to force something that just wasn't there. So while I was scared out of my mind at this point, I was also excited. I was going to have a baby!!



2012



Now came the time to tell everyone. Friends were the easiest to tell. My boss was a little harder to tell but she's been completely supportive since day one so I don't know why I worried. Then came the hard part. Telling my family.



I had to tell my mom first. How did I tell my mom, you ask? I wrote her a letter. Yes, a letter. You see, I was raised in a Southern Baptist church. Being pregnant and unmarried is bad. So I wrote my mom a letter, because I'm a wuss. My mom's reaction? She was upset because I would be raising her grandbaby in another state, four hours away.



Obviously there was some shock but I only ever heard one negative comment from a crazy aunt and who really cares what she thinks anyway??



At that point in my pregnancy, I was assuming that I was going to be raising Clay by myself (with so much love and support from family and friends!) and while Mike was supportive of my decision, I don't think he knew if he wanted to have any involvement at all.



I want to say here that I don't blame Mike for not knowing. He was 25 and single and had just found out he was going to be a father.



I'll pause the story here to save you from a lonnnnnnng post.













7 comments:

Nancy said...

I’m hooked! :) Thanks for sharing so far (and I hope you’ll continue!). I love your line “I have a job, but my career is being a mother” – I feel the same way! Looking forward to reading the rest.

Kelli said...

Well now you must write a follow up, I think it's important to be honest with out kids about their beginnings. I do know I want to tell Little K that when I found out I was pregnant I thought I didn't want kids but I also want to let her know that changed the exact second the test said preggers. I wanted her from that second on.

I think non-traditional is more the norm now than it use to be, and I applaud you for making it work!

edawkins said...

Clay is a pretty lucky little fellow to be loved by so many people!!

Five | Adventures in Ginger Mommyhood said...

[…] The Story of Us (the first part of the story of our unconventional life) […]

Desiree said...

I love the honesty. Clay is so blessed to have such a wonderful mommy!!

Maybe… | Adventures in Ginger Mommyhood said...

[…] out of time so I have to go but come back tomorrow for Part 2 of The Story of Us! Part One here if you missed […]

The Story of Us, Part 2 | Adventures in Ginger Mommyhood said...

[…] If you missed it, here is Part One. […]