How Becoming a Parent Changes Your Life
The moment you become a parent is when your life changes. I tell people often when they ask me about being a grandmother that the most fascinating part of the journey has been watching my daughter transform into a mom.
Being able to see her begin to think less of herself and more of her baby, watching her interact with our precious granddaughter, and witnessing that transformation has been incredible.
There is definitely something to be said for the circle of life in this particular instance.
Of course, I would have told her there will be tough times and lots of sacrifices, yet I feel as though, especially with being the oldest of five, she knew a bit of what to expect.
But I also believe that she already knew that the heart ache, pain, and tough times are worth every minute. After all, the sweet moments far outweigh the negative ones.
So how does becoming a parent change your life?
On the Giving End of Unconditional Love
Until a person becomes a parent, it is difficult to imagine loving someone unconditionally, for the rest of your life.
No matter what your child does, you never lose your love for them. Even when you are upset with your child, you are the first one to come to their defense and to sacrifice for their good.
The love a parent has for their child never ends.
New Respect for Your Parents
Once you become a parent, you have a new appreciation for what your parents went through while raising you. It is easy to judge when you are young and naïve, but once you are in the position you may have once put your parents in, enlightenment occurs.
Many people have grown up feeling resentful towards their parents, only to become parents themselves and decide to forgive and even ask forgiveness from their parents.
Life has a funny way of playing out sometimes.
Caring about Things You Never Worried about Before
When you are young and only responsible for yourself, you feel invincible. Once you have brought a tiny person into the world, you realize the gravity of every decision you make.
Where you may once have partied too much, you now want to take care of your health in order to be around to see your children grow up.
Where you once bought new items and got rid of them without thinking twice, you now constantly think about the condition that you want to leave the world in for your little ones.
Making Personal Decisions with Someone Else in Mind
Gone are the days of making split decisions based on your wants. Once children enter the picture, it’s all about what they want and need.
This may mean not going on that spur-of-the-moment camping trip with your buddies, or cancelling the plans you were looking forward to because your child is sick and you need to stay home with them.
This is all part of being a responsible parent.
Your “Favorite Shows” Change
You may have once liked documentaries, thrillers or action movies. But now that you’re a parent, your favorite shows are the ones that either distract your child from a tantrum, or make their face light up as they sing along to the theme.
Never thought you’d fall head over heels for the antics of brightly colored, fuzzy animals with high-pitched singing voices, or obnoxious animated toddlers? Think again.
Baby shark, anyone?
Nothing Is Yours Alone
Sharing takes on a whole new meaning when you become a parent. Children will force you to share almost everything that you are able to obtain.
From computers and smartphones, to candy and even coffee, your child will want to share it all. You will literally feel any remaining selfishness dissolve out of complete necessity.
Becoming a parent changes you in many ways. There is nothing quite like the joy of looking at your brand new baby as you welcome them into the world.
From the good to the downright difficult, you will be a changed person forever once your parenthood journey begins.
