Having a baby is absolutely life-changing. I knew this and expected things to be different, but boy was I not prepared for the magnitude of it all. Here are just a few (some silly, some serious) ways a baby changes your life.
How a baby changes your personal life:
- Suddenly you’re not the center of your own world. Another little being has taken over your attention and all your time.
- Activities and hobbies that were important to you before take a backseat or are forgotten altogether. Doing things you used to enjoy takes so much effort and planning that they lose some of their appeal.
- You have more colorful gadgets in your home than you ever imagined. The baby seems to have more stuff than you do.
- You no longer get squeamish with toilet humor because you’ve had your share of diaper blowouts and being covered in another person’s bodily fluids.
- Small talk is not so much about the weather but how much (or little) sleep you got last night.
How a baby changes your professional life:
- Your priorities change and you have to find a new way to balance every hat you wear.
- You no longer work late to finish a project or volunteer for projects with travel.
- You schedule your meetings around your pumping schedule and vice versa.
- Getting caught in bad traffic is even more awful than ever before.
- You find yourself more focused on the important projects and have less interest in chasing down every project available
How a baby changes you for the better:
- You find yourself demonstrating more patience and understanding than you thought you had.
- You surprise yourself at what you are able to accomplish.
- You find hidden strength of character and will.
- You find yourself smiling, despite how exhausted you are.
- Your heart grows several sizes.
- You celebrate this little person’s victories more than you ever celebrated your own.
- You wouldn’t change it for the world.
How are you embracing how having a child changes your world?
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Stacey Gannett says
What an amazing post! So very true. It is truly amazing how one little being can throw such a wonderful monkey wrench into life. Have an amazing week!
Julie says
Love that terminology – wonderful monkey wrench ;)
Angela Gilmore says
Oh yes, on every front! I used to love to travel for work, and now I dread being assigned travel assignments! And isn’t it amazing how we can smile through it all? It must be that bigger heart thing. I never knew I could love so much!
Julie says
I never realized love could grow like this. A coworker commented recently that no matter how tired I look, when she asks about the baby I smile.
Julie Jo Severson says
Yes, having children sure sucks the selfishness right out of us doesn’t it. Your list is spot on, from hobbies taking a backseat, to the bad traffic, to finding hidden strength!
Julie says
Thanks Julie Jo :) sometimes I wish I could be just a little bit more selfish lol
Marina @ Parental Journey says
It changes a lot, that’s true.. But it’s worth it :)
diana says
It’s true a baby changes your life, great list!
PS: I’ve nominated you for a liebster award on my blog.
Lisa @ The Golden Spoons says
Great list! I would agree to all of those!
Janine Huldie says
So true to all of the above, Julie and like you though I wouldn’t change it for the world still! :)
Julie says
Thanks Janine :) It is a scary change, but a good one :)