Teens and babies

While Erika is excited about having a new brother/sister, she's also a regular teen who is pretty absorbed in her own teen dramas...and doesn't really care much about seeing an ultrasound or (gasp!) watching her mother in labor. (I offered at least!)

I've had a few people tell me that it'll be so crazy having a baby now since the last time I went through this situation was a whooping FIFTEEN years ago...but I think it might make things easier. I know what I'm in for and hopefully can correct some of the mistakes I made when I was a single, young working mother.

For example, I didn't read enough to Erika, nor did I focus on getting her ready for kindergarten. She watched too much TV and God forbid, I'm sure I fed her way too many foods laden with high fructose corn syrup.

No she isn't developmentally delayed - she's a straight-A student - so fortunately I didn't cause too much damage from my parental neglect. But I had hoped to instill a love of reading in her and that clearly didn't happen. She only reads Seventeen and Sweet 16 magazines. I don't know the last time she actually picked up a book to read for fun. And from the endless amount of time she spends texting and chatting on the phone, I think she's on track socially, too.

But sometimes I think even though you have the best of intentions — my husband plans to make and grind our own baby food for this new little one — it's really a genetic luck of the draw.

I just hope this next child is as brilliant as I'm hoping he/she will be. And I hope to God he/she doesn't inherit my poor math skills.