The Rabbit Died.

With the coming of new grandchildren, I have been reminded of the days when there were so many unknowns in pregnancy. First of all, there was not an internet to ask questions that you didn't want to ask just anyone.

In the 1930's a doctor would inject a woman's urine into a rabbit to see if she was pregnant. Then they'd do an autopsy on the rabbit to see if it's ovaries had burst. If they did, the woman was pregnant. The rabbit died whether she was pregnant or not.

Even in 1978, when I began having babies, there were no "early" pregnancy tests and there was nothing over-the-counter.

I remember calling my doctor one day and asking the nurse if I could come in to have a pregnancy test. She told me I had to wait for about a month more before they would do a blood test. That would be 10 weeks after conception. Believe me, by the time they did a pregnancy test, my nausea told me better than any stinking blood test.

On my first pregnancy, this is what I wrote, about two weeks after conception: " I have been feeling some indications that lead me to believe that I might be pregnant. I haven't been sick. I've been a little nauseated at times but always feel better when I eat something....We are worried that we won't be covered by my insurance.” I was very hungry for about 2 weeks. It would have been nice to have a little at-home test and a better date calculator. As it turned out, I was covered and little Whitney was born safe and sound the day after school got out. I was a third grade teacher.

When I was 30.....

1..... I wish I knew that my kids had Celiac Disease. I could have made them feel better sooner. I could have been fresher by getting more sleep rather than being awakened every night with sad little children with tummy aches.

2. ....I wish I knew that it was pointless to worry about things that might not happen. I needed to make the environment safe and listen to little warning promptings when they came.

3. ......I wish I knew that the time with my kids was going to go so fast.

4. .......I wish I had known that feelings of dread were often felt prior to big wonderful events that were going to be a lot of work but just had to be lived through, not eliminated. I always felt I should not go on a vacation, up until I was about to leave. If I had succumbed to the feeling of dread, I'd have never gone anywhere with the family. Once I was on the way, the feeling left. I had the same feelings right before an event I was in charge of running at church. The way I gauged whether it was just me or a heavenly prompting to cancel, was this: I proceeded to do the event or vacation. If the feeling didn't leave after I began the event or left on the vacation, I pulled the plug. Every time I planned to go to the temple, I felt like I shouldn't go. Once in the car, the feeling always left.

5..... I wish I had known it was okay to say no when someone asked me to watch their children, if I was already overwhelmed. I later learned that it is best to say (to someone who was phoning, except in an emergency), "Can I call you back and let you know if I'm able to help you? I need to check my schedule. I can't check it right now, I've got my hands full." Most of the time I could help, but many times, I needed more help than the person who was calling. And many times I said yes before I realized I already had something planned that I ended up canceling.

6. ....I wish I knew that it is best not to jam too many things into small time periods. It just creates a lot of frustration when it makes you late. It's best to toss out the least important items. Leave a little earlier than you need. I'm still working on this one. I know it now....but old habits are hard to break.

7. ......I wish I knew that kids need to be working next to a parent on household chores rather than just sending the kids off to do a chore while a parent does a different chore. A parent can make work fun with a little bit of creativity. It's a great time for heart to heart talks.

8. ........I wish I knew that troubling times need a quiet room and a logical mind that is not weary or hungry or angry. After I am fed, and rested and calmed down, I feel promptings come to me that help to let me know how to decide matters quickly.

9. ......I'm glad I knew that it was more important to have children that knew I loved them than it was to keep a spotless house. I'm glad my kids felt like there was no place like home. I'd rather be cleaning up a mess than wondering what my kids were playing at someone else's house.

10. ....I'm glad I said what I meant and meant what I said. I was honest with my children and with people I knew and loved. I did go climb in the shower sometimes so my kids could tell someone at the door I was in the shower but I never let them say I wasn't at home if I was really home. I'm glad my kids understand that I did my best and that is all anyone can ask.