The Truth About Parenthood

Yes its true; children are the meaning to a fulfilled life. They bring great joy and an abundance of happiness and laughter.  When asked, most parents only say good things about the whole parental experience.  They don't talk about the life adjustments, stress, sleepless nights, domestic disputes and sometimes lame social life that comes with having your own little bundle of joy.  

Don't get me wrong, I'm a parent and my son is my whole life.  Even though being a dad isn't easy, I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I could tell you how indescribable it is the amount of love you feel for your child or how good it feels to know that you have someone that loves you no matter what but that's not the point of this blog.  Lets' tell the real truth about parenthood.    Parenthood is one of the most beautiful experiences ever. And it will be even more beautiful, still, if parents knew exactly what they’re in for in every regard, not just the highly romanticized ones.  

First things first; its alright to not want to be around your kids all the time.  There... I said it! No one died and the world hasn't coming to an end. There are times where you wont find them as adorable or as pleasant to be around.  Believe me, its true! But of course, being the loving and moral parent that you are, you bottle that feeling deep deep down in the very pits of your soul and pretend it away.  Don't feel bad, you're not the only parent out there that just sometimes need a break.

There is a book written by Daniel Gilbert, Stumbling on Happiness, that even concluded that a person’s “average happiness” dips considerably at the onset of parenting and doesn't again rise until the first child has gone off to college.  Now, I'm not going as far as to say your happiness will decline, but there are guaranteed life changes that will occur and you may not be as ready for them as you think.

Most people don't want to be the "bearer of bad news" when describing parenthood to friends or first time parents, so they tend to keep it light and friendly.  But that's exactly what you shouldn't do! New parents will appreciate you much more for giving them a heads up on EVERYTHING that awaits them around the corner.  If that still doesn't make you feel better, just think, What Would Jesus Do? He would want you to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Another unspoken truth about parenting is everyone doesn't fall in love with their child at first sight.  I'm sure you've heard the overly dramatized stories from parents of how they fell in love with their child as soon as they laid eyes on them.  While that is true for a lot of couples, its not always true for everyone.

Studies have found that about 20% of new moms and dads feel no real emotional attachment to their newborn in the hours after delivery.  Sometimes, it takes weeks or even months to feel that attachment according to WebMD.  So, if you haven't begun bonding with your baby, don't feel anxious or guilty, it should come with time.   

Parenthood is a joyous thing but lets not be afraid to tell the truth and the whole truth about it.  We could be saving some people the heartache of having to figure it out on their own. 

Please comment below, I'd love to hear your take on this!