7 memories from the first year of a baby's life

One day, writer Ann Lamott received a call from her 19-year-old son, who was contacting her with the unexpected news that he was going to be a father. Having previously written a memoir called 'Operating Instructions' about the first year of Sam's life, Lamott decided to chronicle the highs and lows of the first year of being a grandmother, with Sam sharing his experiences of sudden fatherhood, for her new book 'Some Assembly Required.'

- Molly Driscoll, Monitor contributor

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1. Labor is hard for everyone

Sam Lamott's girlfriend Amy wouldn't take any drugs while she was in labor, which Anne Lamott remembers made her feel "crazy with powerlessness." "Of course, I pretended to be supportive of whatever she decided," Anne writes. "Sam, Trudy [Amy's mother] and I took turns going to the cafeteria for snacks, while Amy was brought hospital meals which no one ate, because the meals looked like upscale pet food, with a side of boiled vegetables. When all was said and done, we ate mostly Cheetos and M&M's. And when I say 'we,' I mean me."