Belly Bonanza

The ‘ugly lights’ have been turned on and Gen-X is being called for ‘last DINKs’! Being a seventy-eighter, on the cusp of generations, I figure my kind potentially have a few Dual Income No Kid years left in us, if we choose, but passing the big 30 has certainly kick started our production factories.

I currently have five good friends who are sporting a beautiful bulging belly and a couple more who are planning for the upsize. This week I honoured mothers-to-be, babies-to-come and good friends alike at a blessingway, a baby shower and a mid-trimester party. What struck me, apart from how exited and ready these women were to step into motherhood for the first or second time, was the diversity in which people choose to celebrate the bringing of new life. In this day and age with the mingling of many cultures and beliefs there is an abundance of choice for this ritual.

Over the past few years I’ve had the pleasure of attending celebrations of this nature which have involved a) a beach-side BBQ for both men and women b) a night of cocktails for the ladies and mocktails for the expecting one and c) back-deck shenanigans, impromptually at my place, in honour of the one who went into early labour that morning. Each time I think to myself, well that wasn’t your usual baby shower, but with the exception of the missing mother, each event has been a wonderfully bespoke gathering.

My involvement in each event has been quite varied, but this week I had the pleasure of writing a poem for my good friends blessingway. It was great to put myself into her headspace and wish her well in her maiden voyage. The poem went a little something like this:

The Maiden’s Voyage

She sits on the sand, looking out on the sea.

She will soon cross over to ride its waves.

She has dipped a toe or two in before, with glee,

but now it is the full sail she craves.

Preparations are made, she enlist a good crew.

With the help of her mate, construction begins.

Each limb of the vessel is created anew.

Much of her efforts are focused within.

Now to set sail and push through the bar;

the challenging passage to access open waters.

Many will act as her guiding star,

but she will have to skipper the orders.

Ready she is, to face whatever the ocean brings,

for this maiden’s voyage is the creation of new and wonderful things.

- The Wife

I wonder what my own belly 'bash' will be like, when the time comes?