BECOMING A PARENT! 10 THINGS THAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU.

Hello my dear readers, as this is a new page what better way to begin than its inception, that time your loved one tells you those special words: “WE ARE EXPECTING”, “I AM PREGNANT”, “WE ARE GOING TO BE PARENTS”. It’s such a magical time and at the same time can be daunting! Raising a child is full of surprises. No matter how many books, parenting forums, and articles you read, nothing can completely prepare you for becoming a parent. If I could go back to before I had my first born and tell myself what I didn’t know I would experience, this is what I would say: The Early Months Are Pure Torture.

 

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I sometimes think babies’ cries are so grating, their sleep so erratic, and breastfeeding so painful just to harden up parents. If you can survive the first few months of Baby Boot Camp without losing your mind, you can survive anything—you’re like a superhero. Because, really, the first few months are hell if you enjoy sleeping, showering, and functioning well.

Others told me it was hard. But it’s impossible to truly convey just what it’s like to wake up at night every two hours for several months. Or try to calm a baby who’s screaming inconsolably. Or deal with your body now being three sizes bigger than it used to be. Or struggle with not feeling like yourself for not just months but maybe even years.

The other thing to know, though, is that as bad as it gets, you’ll get through it. (Just don’t be afraid to ask for help, especially if you suffer from post-partum depression.) There are blissful, amazing moments during that period too, and, after enough time passes, you might even think back wistfully on this period and even be crazy enough to go through that torture again.

You Will Lose and Surely Miss Sleep.

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Even past the infant and toddler stages, you might have sleep issues. Middle-of-the-night nightmares, kids sleeping between you and your significant other, difficulty getting them up in time for school, and so on. A word to the wise: Don’t start a sleep or nighttime habit (like letting your kid into your bed in the middle of the night) you don’t want to continue until your child is in college.

You Can Work from Home with a Child (But Only Up to a Point).

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There are two periods of your children’s lives when working from home with them is a breeze: Before they’re walking (e.g., when they can entertain themselves by discovering their toes) and after they’re old enough to understand that when you’re working from home, you’re really not available. If your kid is good at entertaining him/herself, working from home is easy, but it might still give you pangs of guilt when your attention is divided. It’s hard for parents to say “No, I’m busy now” several times a day. So even if you’re lucky enough to get to work from home, you should plan on getting childcare help once your child is old enough to demand your complete and undivided attention.

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You Will Never Be the Same

Parenting changes you. I expected this, but I didn’t expect just how radically it would. It’s not like you turn into your mom or dad overnight, but your values, perspective, and habits get realigned to one single creature: your child (or your children, if you have more than one).

Finally, remember NONE of the negative stuff on this list—as terrible and messy as they sound—will really bother you in the long run. You’ll discover many new things about yourself as a parent—things that make you stronger, mature and SELFLESS.

Glamsquad

Glamsquad magazine is an independently operated online fashion, beauty, style, entertainment, and health blog. Its features are both inspirational and accessible, giving our followers a scoop on what's trending now in the fashion, beauty, style, and entertainment industry.

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