Omar spoke. Just paying up for the party…and we are good to go! He signed the receipt, folded it, took his credit card and put it in his wallet.

Have you seen the cake? I asked.

Yup, looks great! He winked at me.

Alba reached out her arms to me. Oooh, baby girl…you want to go for a swim?

Great idea, said Omar, we can swim, have some lunch and then have a nap before the party. Perfect!

Have a great party, Alba! Fernie waved at us as we left the office, and as we walked away, I felt my heart explode into bursts of joy. Yes. It was perfect, perfect. Perfect.

They say motherhood is a joy. They say motherhood is bliss. They say motherhood changes you for the better. You think less of yourself. More of others. Of the world. They say motherhood is a gift from the gods. They say motherhood is the ultimate sacrifice, that your children are here to teach you, and you learn from them. They say that motherhood is hard, but your love for your child will help you get through the difficult times. They say there is no greater love than a mother’s love. They say unconditional love exists between a mother and her child. They say this too shall pass, this too shall pass. They say when she sleeps, you sleep too. They say she will sleep through the night, when they reach a certain weight, they will be more independent. They say you will get your life back, eventually. They say you will not sleep for years, that you will never sleep through the night again, maybe when they’re five. They say breastfeeding will help you lose the weight.

They say a child is here to test you. They say a child will wreck a marriage that is not strong. They say a child will bring you closer. They say a child is a balm for the troubled soul. They say a child will ground you. They say that you will develop instincts. All mothers do. They say you will never recover. They say that your child comes first, above all else. They say sex will cease. They say your husband will love you more. They say your husband will love you less, and the child more. They say your body will never be the same again. They say female athletes are stronger after motherhood. They say it is like running a never-ending marathon. They say you will worry and worry for the rest of your life. They say the work as a mother never ends. They say that you will learn to let go.

They say that when your child says Mama, you will fall in love. They say your child’s character is there from birth, you are only there to facilitate who they will become. They are who they are. They say motherhood is the mark of being a woman. They say women who do not have children have not really lived. They say women who do not have children are selfish. They say women who do not have children live with regret. They say motherhood means you will never be alone. They say your children will look after you in old age.