Realtalk: FIRST TIME PARENT (MY JOURNEY)

FIRST TIME PARENT (My journey)

BY Rebecca Masina

It all seems easy until it is you having to go through it. For me I never thought that I could nail this parenthood thing. I never thought I could be this good. I’ve always been that crazy, happy and a person who always makes jokes. I don’t remember being serious about life. Well I had that thing of I will be serious when the time comes and for now it is just my time to be me and enjoy being Rebecca. I raised my sisters kid Gomolemo and learnt a lot from raising her. I did everything that a mother can and should do for a new born to a toddler. Well except for breastfeeding because I wasn’t her mom. From there I have never thought of my self being a mom let alone having my own bundle of joy, my own photo copy. I bet almost everyone was shocked to hear and see me being pregnant including myself. Even after eight months I still did not believe it was me who was pregnant.

My little one was always kicking me so bad it hurt and did not want her to kick anymore. I was a month away to giving birth but still it wasn’t in my mind that I was about to be a mom. As crazy as I seemed, most people were even asking what kind of a mom I am going to be to my child because I was never serious. Weeks away I still was not prepared. Not even bought anything for the baby or prepared anything. I hated how she kicked me but when she was not kicking I was getting worried.

Always had that friend who sponsored my crazy cravings (Lebo Mamabolo). This lady went through hell as if she was the father of my baby. She took a lot of crap from me. Stood by me even though I gave her tough times. Thank you LEE. **/…Askere Modimo ago boke.

Oh well soon I got into labor at the best ever hospital, where I almost drove nurses crazy. Aah labor pains are no child’s play. 27+ hours of hectic labor pains. Hope you understand the pain that I was in. then they asked me if I was going to come again. Lol well after what I have experienced I do not know.

After those hours with God’s Grace I gave birth to a baby girl and named her Kagiso. She is my benediction. From that hour I knew it was the beginning of a long life journey. Just because some of us raised kids at our places, then taking care of Kagiso did not need me to always call my mom to help me. I did everything myself. Today I call her Formula 1 because she’s too active and speaks a lot of gibberish, she has a loud voice and she’s a strong lady. She fights for her things. She’s my all. And even today I still cannot believe am her mom. Only 10 months old, but already calls me mama. Already walks to every room she wants to go to. The way she responds to her dads call… wonders. Granny always complaining about the mess but hey what we can do. We put together then few seconds she’s marking her territory that she’s here. Mess up the house in seconds. Not forgetting that she’s a dancer. That she took from her aunt.