There are few occasions in life that simultaneously spark as much anxiety and joy as the announcement of a new baby. Whether we know someone who’s been trying to conceive or who’s chosen to adopt, or we’re the one with a baby on the way, the prospect of new life signals the beginning of an uncertain chapter that is at once rewarding and daunting.
Becoming a parent is an ineffable experience, though that hasn’t stopped countless writers, philosophers, activists, and others from trying to capture it in words. In part, this is because becoming a parent means learning more about ourselves and who we are in relation to others. But it’s also because parenthood, grandparenthood, aunthood, unclehood, etc., can draw out strength and love we might not have even known we had.
They say it takes a village to raise a child, and it certainly takes more than one or two people to navigate the wild ride of parenthood. So whether we’re on the brink of parenthood or soaking in the excitement of a second or third pregnancy, or we’re simply elated to share some inspiration with loved ones embarking on this new chapter, these 10 quotes are sure to offer words of wisdom and humor for the journey ahead.
The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.Rajneesh
A mother’s arms are made of tenderness, and children sleep soundly in them.Victor Hugo
There’s nothing like a newborn baby to renew your spirit — and to buttress your resolve to make the world a better place.Virginia Clinton Kelley
Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.Neil Postman
People who say they sleep like a baby usually don’t have one.Leo J. Burke
Loving a baby is a circular business, a kind of feedback loop. The more you give the more you get and the more you get the more you feel like giving.Penelope Leach
A baby is the beginning of all things — wonder, hope, and a dream of possibilities.Eda LeShan
Ah, babies! They’re more than just adorable little creatures on whom you can blame your farts.Tina Fey
Newborn babies can’t do much on their own. They can’t eat or walk or talk on the phone. But every parent is sure their creation is without a doubt a tremendous sensation.Jennifer Davis
I think, at a child’s birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity.Eleanor Roosevelt
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