The 10 most life changing aspects of having a baby
Your social life will disappear
Before your baby comes along you’ve got it all worked out. 'It won’t change anything – they’ll just fit in with whatever we do,' you think optimistically. And they will, for about 10 minutes.
In the early days you can pop them in a car seat and congratulate yourself as they snooze through a meal or a movie. Make the most of it. Before long you’ll all be slaves to ‘the routine,’ and will realise exactly who’s in charge.
But don’t give up just yet. You will go out again one day, you’ll just be back by 11 ‘for the babysitter.’
You’ll get more thrifty
If you’ve always earned your own cash it’s likely you don’t think twice before splashing out on the odd latte or lipstick. But with a new life on the scene you will start to think about money in a whole new way.
Not only will there be less of it around but your priorities will change and you’ll surprise yourself by just how resourceful you can be. But while eating out and impulse buys give way to life insurance and regular savers you’ll be so focused on your little one, you won’t even begrudge it.
You realise it’s not all about you
After a lifetime of selfishness you’re about to take charge of a little person who relies on you for everything. It’s a huge responsibility, but from the first time you set eyes on them your whole life will be geared to making sure they are fed, warm, safe and happy – and from then on they will always, always come first.
It may seem daunting at first, but trust your instincts. Within weeks it will feel like they’ve always been there, and you honestly won’t remember what life was like before they came along.
There’s no spontaneity
Life doesn’t stop when you have a baby, and there will still be days – and even the odd night – out. It’s just that it all becomes so much more, well, complicated.
Kiss goodbye to those spur-of-the-moment romantic evenings – from now on even a quiet drink will be planned with military precision at least a month in advance. And a simple trip to the shops will require nappies, wipes, bottles and 2 outfit changes ‘just in case.’ Try it without and see how far you get…
Holidays just aren’t the same
There’s no getting away from it, holidays just aren’t the same any more with a baby in tow. For a start, weekend breaks are a thing of the past. Now it’s only worth it for a fortnight, that is if you can find anywhere that isn’t too hot, too cold or too sandy.
And forget hand-luggage only. From now on you’ll be trundling through the airport under a towering pile of cases, car seats and buggies, but it’s not all bad news - at least while they’re little you get to jump the queue.
You’ll know what tired means
Most new parents are ready for a few sleepless nights in the early days. However, few are prepared for the mind-numbing exhaustion that creeps in after weeks or months of broken sleep.
Even if your baby is a ‘good sleeper’ you may only get five or six hours at a stretch, and when you do drop off you’ll still be aware of their every shuffle and sigh.
Things will improve, eventually. In the meantime, take turns for a lie-in and look forward to the day they’re finally old enough to wake you with a cup of tea.
You appreciate your parents more
As a teenager you probably swore you’d never be like your parents, but it changes in an instant when you have a family of your own. After years of taking them for granted it will hit you like a ton of bricks just how much they love you, and why, however old you are, you’ll always be their baby. And in years to come you’ll even find yourself trotting out the same old lines as you nag your kids to do their homework…
You won’t recognise yourself
There’s nothing like a baby to make you grow up a little. No matter what you say to kids it’s how you act that counts, and before long you’ll realise your life’s work is now ‘setting a good example.’
As well as covering their ears at the merest hint of profanity, you will find yourself obsessed with good manners, pretending you never smoked and waiting for the green man before you cross the road.
Don’t give yourself a hard time if your halo slips once in a while though – it’s just as important for them to see you’re only human.
You become mum and dad
Before you have kids, you look at friends who have become parents and swear ‘that’ll never happen to us.’ But having a baby will change your relationship in ways you hadn’t even considered. Sleepless nights, financial pressure and the mountain of housework will all take their toll and you’ll have to make a date to even get even five minutes together.
However, just watching your partner and baby together will bring a lump to your throat – and if you work together you really will be stronger than ever in the long run.
You’ll become less squeamish
Thought you were squeamish? Not any more. It’s a little-known fact that within every new parent lies a previously undiscovered interest in bodily functions. Poo, puke and snot will become infinitely fascinating and you will want to discuss them at length.
You’ll spend hours pondering colour, texture and smell and will happily pull your partner out of business meetings to report back several times a day. It’s all perfectly normal and will fade as you become more confident about what’s healthy – just bear in mind your baby’s bowel movements don’t hold quite the same fascination for your workmates.
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