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.'

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."

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