10 Ways In Which Parenting Can Change You 100%

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It is natural for kids to take some things for granted, especially if sacrifices come from parents. In the run-up to becoming parents, you can get a fair idea of the responsibilities that come with having a child. This is especially true if you have already been an aunt or uncle before becoming a mom or dad. But the magnitude of the responsibility will hit differently when it comes to sacrificing sleep, work, and other routines to take care of your child. 

One of the first new emotional changes that you can expect to feel as a new parent is a newfound and profound gratitude towards your own parents. And before you know it, you will tell your kids “You’ll understand when you become a parent”. If you do feel more for your parents now, pick up your phone, ring your parents up and tell them how much they mean to you.

More patience

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When you are surrounded by adults in a functional society and suddenly have to go home to children who do not understand a lot of what you are trying to communicate, your patience can go from L to XXXL. But, patience is supposed to be one of the best ways to deal with children - it helps them understand situations, good practices, and other ideal behavior when it comes from a source of patience and understanding. If you think back to your childhood (and no childhood is perfect) the moments you feel that your parents could have done better would be dealing with your issues and problems more patiently. As a natural reflex, you automatically become more patient when you become a mom or dad.

You become happier

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If your baby is well-planned and is brought into existence as a result of actually wanting to bring a child into the world, then the parents are naturally happier that they have a baby to come home to. Think about your pre-baby and post-baby routine after coming home from a stressful day at work. After having a baby, you know that a smiling face is waiting for you to come back home and spend time with them. This, in turn, makes you a happier person.

Your personal efficiency

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When you have a kid and naturally say ‘bye’ to those long relaxing showers and workout routines, it is replaced with a machine of efficiency. Your breakfast, shower, and workout take a fraction of the amount of time that they used to take. All of your extra time will go into changing diapers, giving your baby a bath, watching endless episodes of Dora the Explorer, and so on.

No more me-time

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While this is not an advertisement to stop you from having a child, please do not be surprised that your personal time and personal space will become non-existent post a child. Oh, you want to use the restroom, I don’t think so! Brace yourself for multiple people joining in on your bathroom breaks. 

Your own human alarm

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You would think that you would not have to worry about waking up to your children kicking you in the shin after they turn 2 but that’s where you’re wrong. Children can wake you up with the most mind-boggling and random reasons well into their teens. 

More fear

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As your children grow, you will constantly be worried and scared - of things that could hurt them, and mistakes they could make (especially repeating the mistakes that you made while growing up). The best way to deal with this is to understand that they are their own human and let go of things you cannot control.

Your priorities change

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At one point in your pre-baby life, you would have thought that your spouse is the most important person to you. But you will slowly notice a shift in perspective as you power through parenthood. However, it will certainly be a beautiful shift to see your partner become a great father/mother to your number one priority.

A whole new confidence

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Despite putting on some new mommy weight or running errands 24*7 like a new dad, and always dressing in sweats and tracks, you will still find yourself glowing with newfound confidence. Being a mom or dad means taking care of a whole other human without expecting anything in return. This makes you a better, more confident person. Essentially, parenting teaches you that if you can deal with kids, there is pretty much nothing else that can shake you up. So, bask in that glory and enjoy one of the best gifts of life.

A whole new social circle

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As soon as you retire from your party girl/boy lifestyle after having a baby, you will notice that your entire social circle will now become different. Your pre-baby friends can only see so many videos of your child picking up their sock, right? But your new group of friends will be other parents and older couple friends - not that it is any kind of step-down though. Just learn to slowly strike the right balance and you will be able to enjoy the best of both worlds. 

For the most part, though, your new best friend will be your child. And you get to go through whole new experiences with this person who will make your life messy, beautiful, meaningful, and absolutely fun…just get ready to watch Baby Shark 50 million times and you should be okay.

How has parenting your child(ren) changed you for the better? Let us know in the comments below.