Preparing for Parenthood

My husband and I are expecting our first baby in January [insert panic and excitement]. Since we first found out, there seems to be an invisible timer counting down the days until the baby arrives. Life is measured in weeks and doctors appointments. Suddenly there is so much to do. 

Preparation is key, or so I’ve heard. I decided to begin with a Google search of baby gear. My head starts to spin shortly after “researching” the endless options of strollers, car seats, and cribs. I conclude that I’m better off just talking to other moms and limiting my research. I’m already overwhelmed. 

A couple of days later I received a package from Amazon at my front door and wondered what I accidentally ordered. As it turns out, a friend from my small group at church sent me a book.

The book is called Waiting in Wonder: Growing in Faith While You’re Expecting. After I got this book a couple months ago, it quickly became the most important part of my “preparation” for parenthood. 

This devotional offers an incredibly honest look at the wide range of emotions (happiness, anxiety, and more) experienced when planning for a baby. More than just mentioning the symptoms (as other books do), this book offers solutions to anxieties and fears—such as finances, changes children bring to marriage, and more—by pointing to God. By providing specific verses and examples of God’s care and love for us, I am reminded that I’m not meant to wait in anxiety. I can trust God and cast my cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7). The devotional also provides space to write down thoughts and reactions (tailored to each week).

This book has been a wonderful gift to me and has provided peace and spiritual growth. I’d encourage anyone who is waiting on a baby to pick it up (or it would make a great gift). 

Also, if you know anyone who is going through the adoption process (like a couple of my dear friends), two great devotionals unique to the adoption journey are Encouragement for the Adoption and Parenting Journey: 52 Devotions and a Journal and While We Wait: Spiritual & Practical Advice for Those Trying to Adopt. 

I’m thankful to a friend who reminded me that the most important preparation for a baby is not the gear or the “stuff”. Instead, learning to trust more fully in God is the BEST preparation I could ever do. 

Please feel free to share your thoughts on anxiety during times of transition and waiting. I’d love to hear the books, people, or Biblical promises that brought you back to solid ground!