What about you has changed most since becoming a parent?

Question

Or, what do you expect will change if and once you do?

Answer 1

From a man's point of view, there has been numerous changes in my life since becoming a parent. I developed a better respect for my parents and forgave them for most of the mistakes they made with me when I gre up. Raising a child is not easy. I had to mature quickly and realize that the needs of my children where much more important than my own needs. I also had to constantly change the way I think but keep my ideals intack. I have 5 children ranging from the ages of 21 and 5. Each and every one of them are different in personality, thought processes, and academically. There is no universal method for raising children as they are all different so I had to learn with my children. I finally understood teh importance of discipline but most importantly, found out what it meant to love someone unconditionally. My children are the only one's I would give my life for if it meant saving any one of theirs. I have become sympathetic to the children's charities out there and though I realize that some troubled children have a mental defect, mose troubled children are that way because of family and society. Children are our future and if we ruin them at a young age, we destroy our future. Before I had any kids, I never understood what I understand now and never really cared much about charities or children in other countries. Never cared about the stories of abuse. Never cared of the stories of neglect. Today, it breaks my heart to hear of these and I hug my children every day (the ones that are still living with me) and tell them that I love them. Something I never had as a child, and will not let my children go through life without. So your question of what about me has changed, everything about me has changed. It took my children growing up to force me to grow up as well.

Answer 2

I became a mother 18 years ago. My husband and I adopted a family members baby boy. I was only 19 at the time. What changed the most was I no longer could be self centered and think only of my own needs and wants. I had to put my new son's needs before mine. I did a lot of growing up that 1st year. Since then I have had 4 of my own, with the oldest now 18 and my youngest 6. I remember those years when they were all small and driving me crazy and wishing I didn't have to change diapers or get up in the night to fix bottles. Now, I miss those days. They flew by to fast. Treasure every moment with your children because 18 years is a short time period before they are ready to leave the nest for good. After they are all grown there will be plenty of "me" time. Always put your children first, they will remember it forever.

Answer 3

What an excellent question! I feel like I've been needing to vent about this one for a while......before I became a mom (or at least before I had my second child) I used to be such a calm, mellow person. Very easy-going. I laughed a lot... because I truly was amused. I had fun, and was funny. Now, 6 years after becoming a mom, I feel angry, ignored, "abused", and the list goes on. My kids are ages 6, 4 1/2, and almost 3. This is NO exaggeration, but EVERY day, each child will fuss at me, whine at me, yell at me, have their own little fits, and generally just act like a baby. (note the ages of my children...none are actually babies anymore.) I understand they're fighting for attention. They do get their own individual attention. Many of you will say that's how children are....but when it's all 3 kids all the time, what's going on? Over the past 6 yrs, it has worn on me. I can't take it anymore. The behavior I am dealing with everyday has made me become an angry person. After having been an at-home-mom for the past 2 years, I feel as if I've become one of them. I can't believe it, because I used to be such a happy person.......where has SHE gone?

Answer 4

What an excellent question! I feel like I've been needing to vent about this one for a while......before I became a mom (or at least before I had my second child) I used to be such a calm, mellow person. Very easy-going. I laughed a lot... because I truly was amused. I had fun, and was funny. Now, 6 years after becoming a mom, I feel angry, ignored, "abused", and the list goes on. My kids are ages 6, 4 1/2, and almost 3. This is NO exaggeration, but EVERY day, each child will fuss at me, whine at me, yell at me, have their own little fits, and generally just act like a baby. (note the ages of my children...none are actually babies anymore.) I understand they're fighting for attention. They do get their own individual attention. Many of you will say that's how children are....but when it's all 3 kids all the time, what's going on? Over the past 6 yrs, it has worn on me. I can't take it anymore. The behavior I am dealing with everyday has made me become an angry person. After having been an at-home-mom for the past 2 years, I feel as if I've become one of them. I can't believe it, because I used to be such a happy person.......where has SHE gone?

I've only barely started on how daily life is in this home. Does this happen to stay-at-home dads, too? I've been so quick to blame my hormones for my moods. So, has it been my hormones, or the kids? Please let me know I'm not alone on this one.

Answer 5

Well, I havent had my own children but I've helped my bf raise his daughter since she was almost 6 months old (and is now 18 mos old). I didn't even like children before he came along, but I wanted the man so I put up with the child and now I love her more than anything as if she were my own. I take just as much care of her if not more than he does. No one ever expected I'd have children so for me the biggest change is that I actually do. But my entire schedule has changed and finances have changed. I take her and pick her up from her grandmothers on most occasions. Time and money id say are the biggest but then again its not my own child.

Answer 6

Hi, when you become a new parent for the very first time, you'll notice that you don't behave or act like a very naughty kid; you have to know how to organize and run a family; you have to be more responsible for many things, such as your household income; you have to know how to raise and take care of your children, to make sure that they live and grow up in a very healthy environment; make sure they have enough foods and do not go hungry; and last of all, when you raise your children, try to maintain a certain degree of your authority; you need not to be very strict or dictative to your children, because doing so will only drive your children away from you, and hence harm the relationship between you and your children; and try to teach your children to grow up as a responsible and respectful person too. All in all, there are much parenting lessons to learn. This topic cannot be dealt with just a few words like this!

Answer 7

I am a mother of 2 When I had the first it was all fun and play 2years latter I had 2 children to contend too with that came a lot of change most of all I learned how to control my temper with the little things that really get under your skin like the lip stick all over the wall And face.As a mother you love with out any thought of the pain you may feel as they grow and the eyes start to roll up in there heads the mouth gets bigger than the rest of there bodies you still love them with every thing you are made of any one else tried that crap you would make short work of them and there attitude so if you are planing to have a baby think of all the good things that come with motherhood but please know it is not easy

Answer 8

I am the mother of 5, youngest now 27 years old. When I was young, I was very lucky to have "low Maintence" kids, they were all so good. Smart, learned easy, liked school, did not do drugs, drank very little(that I know), basically all good kids. Now they have all grown with kids of their own.
The thing that changed my life when I became a parent was the amount of time, the amount of love, and fear you have. You fear you wont do the right thing, or fear they will be mad at you if you make them mind, to love them through their growing years and fear letting them go on their own...but the thing I learned about being a parent, the best possible proof of good parenting, is to raise a child that is ready to fly the coop and be a self sustaining adult, a good partner and a good parent themselves. Then when you tell them what a special person they are and how proud of them you are, they turn to you and say, wow, mom you made me this person, you taught me what I know.....booohooo gets me everytime....the worst part of being a parent is to lose a child, be it death(mine at 14), drugs, or just bad behavior, that has been a cross to bear. Ryan was 14 when he died in 1993, and still even at this very moment, I feel as if he will come up behind me, hug me and say hey mom what are you doing....will you fix me something to eat...always hungry...I would give anything in the world to have him back for a day, so love your kids, even when their bad, at least they are there, love them when you think you can not love them anymore....be there for them, and let them know you are proud of their accomplishments, and to help them through their failures.....my life was so blessed with my kids, now I am retired, dont get to see them much, but they all call every single day, some would complain about that, I love it! If only there was a cell phone to heaven....God bless all parents and give you strength, wisdom and patients!!!!

Answer 9

I am 19 years old soon to be 20. I have a 3 year old daughter, and I would have to say that since I have been a parent durring my last teenage years, I have become more responsible, and more appreciative of this life. Some of my fellow students have asked me " Dont you feel like you are missing out on your child hood fun?" I always answerd "No, because I believe that having a child is fun, no matter what difficulties I may have, just watching my daughter grow, learn, play, depend on me, is my fun." My fellow students always made fun of me, but I look at it this way...Being a parent changes your entire preception of life, and it makes you more observant to your sorroundings. Not only do I have a major responsibility, but my Daughter has also given me the strength to carry on and go forward in my life, she is the most amazing child I have ever known. Some Teenagers look for love, and I have happend to find a different kind of love that is everlasting, and that to me is worth living for.

Answer 10

Almost everything changes: Getting married you allow another person to share your life and help make decisions that were your own provenance before. This takes sometimes years of adjustment. If the marriage is good the job of melding two personalities and their differences is good and worth while. This change in individuality as extensive as it is, is as nothing to parenthood. Now you have give up a lot of your bachelor, personae, you are no longer responsible for your life and that of another adult who shares your life. You are the caretaker, protector first line of defense for a helpless human individual whom you have helped to create. Your selfish self interest factors have to be Set on the warmer for much later in life. A more important individual has come into being in your life. Parents give ran some to fate and the world. There is no more important career in life than that of raising and protecting a new human being to grow into a responsible loving caring adult. For you to accomplish that you must have been inculcated with those same values from your own parents. It is the value that makes civilization. Family first, all else falls into place.

Answer 11

My time and how I use it. Before you have a child, you go to work and then whatever time you have left is yours to choose how you will spend. After you have a child, you stop and think about everything you do (more so for the mom). You have to plan everything you do around your child's schedule and when you will have someone to watch him/her. But also, your view of the world as a whole changes. The things you see on the news bother you more and you become more aware of your surroundings - you want the world your child lives in to be safe and happy, and you become more aware of the bad things in the world. But most of all, you feel responsible and fulfilled - you have a reason for everything you are doing. It is the most difficult but also the most rewarding experience I've ever had.