When you become a parent, your life changes forever. Not only do you have a tiny human being who depends on you for everything, but you also get the experience of raising your child.
While being a parent certainly comes with challenges, it’s also a deeply rewarding experience. Below are several ways becoming a parent will change your life forever.
1. You’ll become good at tackling new challenges
Becoming a parent is the fast track to getting good at tackling new challenges. There’s no way around it – each day will bring something new for you to handle, at least for a while.
For example, you might experience difficulty breastfeeding and need a lactation specialist to help. If that’s the case, speak with a lactation consultant to get help with just about any issue you’re experiencing.
Other challenges you’ll face might include figuring out how to get enough sleep, helping your partner understand your needs, and figuring out how to say “no” to people who want to visit when all you want to do is rest.
Challenges will come flying in one at a time, but once you start handling them, you’ll be a pro.
2. You’ll learn to let things go quickly
Your kids will do things that will make you laugh, cry, and wonder what you’ve done wrong. It’s normal, and kids have their own personalities that you can’t always control. However, you’ll learn pretty quickly that you can’t resolve things that upset you like you would with an adult. Becoming a parent is the ultimate lesson in letting go of small things.
For instance, you can’t reason with a two-year-old over things only an adult can understand. For instance, say your two-year-old child swings a bat in the house and breaks a lamp. You’ve already told them not to swing the bat in the house, but they didn’t have the life experience to understand the consequences until they actually broke the lamp.
You can be mad and argue with them, telling them to “be more responsible,” but you won’t get anywhere. A two-year-old doesn’t have the life experience to understand the concept of responsibility beyond the immediate situation. In some situations, like this one, you’ll need to let go of trying to teach a broader lesson and just deal with the broken lamp.
3. You’ll stop being so fussy about keeping the house clean
New parents sometimes have a picture in their mind that they’ll be able to keep their house clean by teaching their kids how to put away their toys. While some kids will learn to clean up their toys early, that’s mostly wishful thinking.
Becoming a parent will help you let go of the need to keep a perfectly clean house all the time because it’s just not possible. There will always be toys strewn about the house, often in random places like in the kitchen, under the couch cushions, and in the sliding door track that leads to the backyard.
No matter what you do, your house will be in some kind of disarray. Even kids who put their toys away tend to leave toys lying around. You’ll never have the time or energy to keep everything clean all the time.
4. You’ll realize Instagram isn’t reality
You’ve probably seen those Instagram pictures where parents make sandwiches for their kids cut perfectly into shapes like monsters and other characters. Maybe you picture yourself being one of those parents who sends their kid off to school with heart-shaped sandwiches and homemade dinosaur cookies.
Those photos look amazing, but the reality is not as glamorous. In reality, if you make fancy snacks, your kids will either throw them on the floor, refuse to eat, or take one bite and run away. Instagram is fun to look at, but those cute meals are probably prepared by moms who have full-time nannies.
5. You’ll appreciate your alone time more than ever
There’s no better way to appreciate alone time than to have kids. Although it’s rewarding to raise a child, it does take a massive amount of energy and all of your focus. Even when they’re at school, you’re going to be cleaning the house and doing other things for your child.
The minute you get some downtime to yourself, you’re going to soak in every single second. Even if it’s only ten minutes or one hour, it will feel like the greatest relief in the world to just be with your own thoughts.
Kids will change your life for the better
These are just some of the ways having kids will change your life. Even though being a parent is challenging, having kids will ultimately change your life for the better.