We are now 5 months in to this whole parenting thing and it is still the craziest thing we've ever done. I asked my husband what had been the most surprising thing that he has learned being a parent and he said it was how little productivity happens in between Aiden's naps. It's no longer easy to go out and mow the lawn or cook dinner. Everything takes longer and has to be more planned out. Then he quickly stated, but on the up side, I have never looked forward to coming home more. I always look forward to getting home to see Bubba.
No matter who you are or what you think about parenting, you will change when your little bundle arrives. You will change A LOT. Things will constantly surprise you. If you weren't flexible before becoming a parent well say goodbye to that. In my opinion parenting is all about going with the flow of things and giving your baby over to God. The two things you absolutely don't want to get caught up in are worrying and comparing. That can drown you.
Becoming a parent has changed me in so many ways. It has changed our marriage in so many ways.
When you are a parent a trip to the grocery store alone is like a vacation and a trip to a Target that has a Starbucks is like winning the lottery. When you do go grocery shopping as a family it becomes a team sport. 2 carts for the win.
When you are a parent your priorities shift. While your friends are still important to you, you don't care about missing out on things like you imagined you would. My happy place is at home with my baby in my arms and my husband sitting next to me (most likely with a cat on his lap.)
When you are a parent your house will be a hot mess. If you don't think you have time to clean now, just wait. Baby toys will explode out of every corner, you will find spit up on your couch cushions and there will always be bottle parts for someone to clean. You will call your day productive if you were able to feed yourself, shower and maybe throw in a load of laundry (which will then sit in the wash for another 3 days until you have to wash it again).
When you are a parent with a baby who doesn't nap often, but who decides to fall asleep on your 5 minute car rides, Drive-thrus become your best friend. Your poor oven will feel neglected unless you are heating up a freezer meal you made during your pregnancy.
You will miss sleep so much it hurts. When you do sleep you will dream of more sleep.
When you are a parent you have to be brave and choose to leave the house sometimes those first few weeks even though it can be more work than it's worth. You will gain confidence in yourself and your parenting the more you get out!
When you are a parent you finally, finally understand what your parents meant when they said it goes by too fast and you will begin to appreciate your parents in a whole new way.
When you are a parent you will always be late and you will start to not care because taking care of your baby is more important and no matter what a poopy diaper just can't wait.
When you are a parent you will begin to understand a tiny bit more how much God really loves you and it will bring you to tears. Parenthood will change you. It will make you cry, it will make you laugh, it will be the best thing that has ever happened to you and that's the naked truth.
