Tomorrow my baby girl will be 2 months old. Another post stating "gosh how time flies!" Unbelievable. I am really bad at writing in this blog and keeping up with it, even more so now that I am a parent. Wow, a PARENT. Which goes without saying, it is the hardest job you will ever have to do. I heard that from so many parents, got advice from them and in my head I would roll my eyes like "yeah, yeah, yeah, everyone's experience is different so i'm sure mine won't be as hard as you say it is." WRONG. Oh, and by the way, I have a wiggly baby right now so I may be writing this blog in sections... Proving my point exactly. Can't even write a blog without being interrupted! Seriously though, parenthood is extremely hard and extremely exhausting. I wish I would have taken the advice of the mothers who told me while pregnant "SLEEP NOW!" when I had weeks off from work and school before having the baby. I wish sooo bad I wouldn't have felt bad to just LIE AROUND and do nothing! Nothing in the world will prepare you for being a parent; you will learn as you go and your experience is what shapes you and teaches you what's best for baby. So many friends out there are trying to have babies and I look at their lifestyle with a huge puzzled look on my face like, "How?" They won't realize though until they become parents how they will have to change and have a family. Nothing I could say or convince them of will be enough for them to understand. So, if you think you're ready to have a child, think again. You're not. You never will be! Not until that precious bundle is in your arms and you walk the journey of parenthood and become that little one's world. The only advice I can give to those wanting to become a parent or are on their way to parenthood is: It's exhausting - rest now ! Talk to your significant other about how you want to parent and be on the same page. That is super important! I am the LUCKIEST to have someone willing to get up in the middle of the night when HE is the one who has to work in the morning, or someone who is excited to spend time with his daughter and take her off my hands so I can get stuff done, when he gets off work. But it is STILL hard and exhausting even with the odds in your favor. So for those of you who say "I don't even care if i'm married or with someone i'll just get pregnant", hahahaha, GOOD LUCK. And for those of you who are in the best situation on your way to parenthood, hold on! It's a crazy ride and once that little one is here your life is FOREVER changed. No going back to your "old life". (Which I think is what is exhausting about the whole thing!) But you don't have to listen to my advice. I sure didn't when I was pregnant, but now I wished I had! :)
Once you're a parent it's nice to receive polite advice from other parents who have walked your journey or are walking the journey with you (same age baby) but people without children who want to give you advice should realize it's kind of un-welcomed. It almost seems condescending in a way to have someone tell you how you could do something when they don't have a child of their own. It's totally different having your own child whom you are responsible for 24 hours a day 7 days a week than it is to be a baby sitter or hang out with children often. It's hardly the same thing, and until you have solely taken care of a child 24 hours a day 7 days a week, your advice isn't really necessary. It's funny thinking that, after becoming a parent because before I was a parent I wanted to give the great advice as well. So it's not like it's a bad thing you want to give advice. But once a parent becomes a parent, they don't really want anyone's advice unless they ask for it :)
Long story short is BEING A PARENT IS HARD, but the most rewarding thing in the world.
