Oh Mama.

Mother’s Day got me thinking about growing up, and being a mom in particular. I figure that at the age we’re at (late twenties) this is when people start thinking about that sort of thing. And it’s a strange moment, when you start to see actual biological clocks begin to tick among your friends.

The first holy shit period after you graduate college seems to be the “moving in together” phase. This is when college sweethearts make the plunge into cohabitation much to the resentment of many a single guy or girl friend. They hate it and break up or eventually get engaged.

Next tends to be the marriage segment. This is when all your friends start to get engaged and you start hearing things like “OMG, we are so old!..people are…like…starting to get married…” You stand in a few weddings; buy a few ugly bridesmaid dresses, and the initial shock fades into gradual acceptance.

So after about a year of marriage, the newlyweds (provided they haven’t already gotten divorced) begin to explore the idea of procreation. An outsider begins to see small things happen. Purchases reflect plans for the future: a house with 3 bedrooms, a car with safety features, an energy efficient washer and dryer. And then comes…the puppy.

Nothing says I’m dying to take care of something, but I’m just not ready to take another life into my own hands like a cuddly, snuggly little newborn canine.

Once you have successfully fostered a puppy into an adolescent (which takes what about 4 weeks?) raising an infant seems a little less scary. Cleaning feces becomes a little less repulsive. Babies in general seem much less frightening, and maybe even…cute?

(No I didn't pull this picture off cutestbabiesintheworld.com, this is an actual baby that I know. Thanks Josh and Amy for choosing to reproduce...well done!)

I’ve actually witnessed this entire process unfold a few times, and have actually begun to live it myself (although it looks like I will be taking the advanced course, skipping the marriage stuff and going straight to the puppy.) and it is heartwarming to say the least.

I know what you’re thinking…wow Tink this is really inspirational, it’s like nothing I’ve ever heard before—you really capture the essence of the human process here. I mean how did you become so objective, yet all encompassing…some perspective!

Sure it is simply an overtly simplified commentary on the incredibly obvious…but I feel that sometimes it helps to explain things when we take a look around and just observe. What the hell, Seinfeld ran for how many seasons, and that was their premise.

So we've talked about finances, and this was a total tangent, but somewhat relevant based on the holiday. What's next?