If you’re expecting your first child, aside from the excitement, you may be wondering what awaits you when the baby is born – and the ways you change after a baby may come as a bit of a surprise to you. Speaking for myself, I thought that my life would pretty much go back to how it was before. Sure, I would have a baby and be a mom, but I thought I’d pretty much remain the same. Well, boy was I wrong! Sure, I am still me, and I still like the same things; however, I really have changed a bit – and not in a bad way, but in a parent way. Wondering about the ways you change after a baby? Here are my 2 cents on the topic.
One of the ways you change after a baby is that your sleep schedule becomes completely different. I’ve always been more of a daytime person, but that meant waking up at about 8 on work days and sleeping until 10 when I had off. I laugh at that now, because since I’ve been a parent, sleeping until 8 is late! And, by 9:00 at night, I’m ready for bed!
I haven’t been this excited about toys since I was a kid! Seriously, when I see a toy that I know my little guy will love, I get more excited than he does! I need to be restrained at toy stores.
Planning my son’s schedule and arranging play dates truly are awesome activities. Before I had a child, I never realized that going to a children’s museum, having a picnic at a park or seeing a puppet show would be just as entertaining for me as it is for him.
As an adult, you become jaded. For me, holidays were stressful and, to be honest, a bit of a pain. Now that I am a parent, the magic has returned. Santa really exists again, and his spirit lies inside my son.
I’ve always been about dressing for comfort, but now I totally understand why sweats are the uniform of a mom. They are so much more comfortable to move around in when you’re chasing your child around a park and they are a lot less expensive than designer jeans. Please don’t call the fashion police!
As a parent, emergency situations come up almost daily. I’ve really learned how to think on my toes and come up with an alternative plan in seconds. A meltdown in public? Lunch exploded on my clothing? Fast thinking to remedy such situations is necessary, and something I’ve totally adjusted to.
I’ve never been a hard-as-nails type of person, but I’ve also never really worn my heart out on my sleeve. Since becoming a parent, I have really become a big softie. I melt when my son says “I love you,” and I profess my love for him and smother him in kisses all the time. I can’t help it; he stole my heart.
So, if you are wondering how your life will change after you become a parent, you may be surprised to find that some of these things will become your reality. What are you expecting will change the most?