I still consider myself a child, technically I am still a teen, so I am completely floored when I see Facebook posts of my old high school classmates and close friends announcing their new pregnancy and posting pictures online. Some of them already had their babies and are living happily in their new lives as parents! And the whole time I’m sitting here thinking how I’m possibly going to fit a nap into my busy schedule, because having Monday, Wednesday, and Friday off every week is exasperating.

Clearly I do not know what being a parent is all about and am personally not ready to take on such a responsibility for the rest of my life, but I am really proud of the ladies who have gone into mother-mode and are ready to bring life into this world. Even now, when everything is off and the world is scary, I know these new mothers will take good care of their babies and teach them to love others the way the Earth needs right now. So how exciting is that!?

Alright, so for the people not having babies quite yet because they are still figuring out how to grow up themselves, I propose we do all we can to help these new mothers by following a few tips I have thought up to help their transition into parenthood be as swift as possible.

Like all of their baby pictures

Yeah, that’s correct every single one. Babies are babies okay, and they aren’t incredible beings, but by gosh if the little one hiccups more than once it’s a 30 minute facebook live stream for all of us to see. But hey, can you blame the parents? Their love for their child is unconditional and so if they want to post a ‘one month of living’ montage of their baby that includes 250 photos, you have to at least like the album. And alright, they’re pretty darn cute after all.

Offer to babysit

So I’m guessing new, young parents are incredibly busy 24/7 so they need all the help they can get even when they don’t ask for it. Babysitting isn’t that tough, but I suggest if you don’t completely trust yourself, pair up with another friend just in case. Anyway, this will give you time to bond with them since now you’re basically an aunt/uncle and will hopefully watch this baby grow into a real person someday, and that means they’re practically family and you actually sorta love them a lot.

(This is sort of exactly what I’m getting at)

Frequently ask if they’re okay

This is a life changing event for everyone involved. It’s scary, it’s definitely new and nobody really knows what they’re doing 100% of the time, so it’s encouraging to know there’s someone close to them who they can lean on when necessary. I know that if/when I have a child, I still won’t be ready, but when you have friends to support you, you can get through any hardships, no matter what.

Don’t freak out (if something kinda bad or shocking happens)

Cause then they’ll start freaking out a little, and nobody wants to be panicked with a baby in the room. It’s okay, it’ll be fine, everyone just breathe.

Be there

So maybe you’re still in college or you just don’t have a lot of money, what’s the next best thing other than getting the new parents a bunch of baby stuff they need? Being there for them of course! So besides babysitting and friendly therapy sessions, how often will you really see each other? In reality, they have a busy life now, and you do too. But at this stage as you both take different paths, you have to put in the effort to show up. Visit them, do some research about parenting stuff they should know, find communities that support each other, and definitely convince them to name the child after you (at least middle name.)

As scary as change is, this change is an incredible one and you don’t want to miss it. So don’t think of parenthood as losing your friend but as gaining a new family member! And someday, when it’s your turn to have a baby, they’ll be right there beside you too.