Parenting and the dawn of a new era: B.B. and A.B.

It was a 6th-century nomadic monk named Dionysius Exiguus who first introduced the world to the concept of quantifying time based on a significant historical event. In particular, Dionysius thought the incarnation of Jesus Christ ought to mark the past and present. Hence, the labels, “Before Christ” (B.C.) and “After Death” (A.D.). We are all familiar with these.

For new parents, however, there is only B.B. and A.B.: Before Baby and After Baby.

BB: Coming up with a super blog idea and publishing it immediately.       
AB: Coming up with a super blog idea and publishing it 5 months later.

BB: Dreaming of owning a kayak and serene morning paddles on the lake.
AB: Splashing around the baby pool and bathtub until she’s old enough to swim.

BB: Imagined traveling with a baby to Ireland wouldn’t be that different from previous adventures.
AB: Was I temporarily insane?? I can’t even make it to the mailbox on most days!

BB: Phone camera reel includes sappy pics with the hubby, vistas from exotic vacations and delectable foodie treats.
AB: All baby, all the time! And sometimes comparison shopping photos of cribs.

BB: I’m free as a bird! Sure, let’s go see a movie. Preferably in a theater that serves martinis.
AB: Comcast On Demand, you have saved our lives.

BB: Used the crock pot only in winter, perhaps a couple of times a year.
AB: A critical tool for our family’s survival. Low and slow, baby!

BB: Online shopping for pumps and blazers.
AB: Online shopping for Pampers and bottles.

BB: Schedule as accurate as accurate can be. Thank you, Outlook.
AB: I don’t make the schedule. See: the BOSS (baby).

BB: Worrying about spilling Malbec on my new blouse.
AB: Specifically purchasing clothing that will hide inevitable baby slobber and whatnot. Please don’t ask me to elaborate on the ‘whatnot’.

BB: I can pretty much do whatever I want, whenever I want to do it.
AB: I can’t do anything within any reasonable amount of time, but I do have this beautiful, perfect baby to keep me entertained in the meantime.

BB: Life is grand.
AB: Life is grand, hilarious, unpredictable, and oh-so-sweet.

And then, of course, there is the next era: Before Teen and After Teen. More on that in a few years.

Parents, share your BB and AB stories!