Things that instantly change when you become a parent
It's amazing as soon as little Grant came into my world, I instantly changed some of my bad habits, and everyday way I live my life. Things I use to do with just Matt and I, I feel I can't do anymore, because I have a child to take care of. I got to make sure he is safe. Not that I was a crazy partier or had a wild lifesytle before Grant came along. But there were certain things I did that we ok to do before a child was in my life. But now that he is in my life, I have to set the example.
So here are the 10 things that instantly changed when I became a mom:
1)I no longer have a led foot, I drive like an old grandma.
For those who know me and have rode in a car with me, can say I'm not the world's best driver. I have many co-workers who avoid riding in a car with me. And I know I'm not the world's best driver, but in my defense, (I better knock on wood) I've only gotten one speeding ticket, which was 5 years ago. And I've only gotten into three car wrecks. Ok that makes me sound like a terrible driver. But in my defense, the first one I just got my license, and I was lost and confused. The other two were black ice related accidents. Which I could have not avoided. Though my Dad and Matt can both argue otherwise. But that is another story. This is why I hate driving in icy and snowy weather! And when I have to drive Grant in that kind of weather I'm going to be a nervous wreck! I was a nervous wreck when I was pregnant with Grant and had to drive in a little snow on the road. I'm super glad it has been a mild winter. But point being even though I'm a not the greatest driver with a lead foot (I usually drive 75-80 miles an hour on the highway when the speed limit it 65, I know I'm bad) as soon as I had Grant, I feel like my driving has instantly changed. I'm now driving 60-65 miles an hour on the highway, and going exactly the speed limit on other roads. And carefully making safe driving decisions. I'm carrying precious cargo. And I couldn't live with myself if my wreckless driving was the reason my little guy gets hurt. So now I drive like an old grandma. People pass me on the highway. And I don't care. I have a baby in the car, so they can get over it.
2) Lack a social life
Hanging out with friends going to trivia night or karaoke, other social gatherings. Those kind of things instantly go out the window. Those kind of things aren't important anymore, I'm not saying I can't have a social life anymore. But certain activities aren't going to happen anymore, at least for awhile. Like going to Wild About Wine at the Cincinnati Zoo. (Which was one of my favorite experiences ever a couple years ago!) Coming home drunk when you have a baby at home, is definitely not a good idea. So social gatherings involves things like seeing my parents, or meeting a friend for lunch. That is as wild as my social gatherings are going to get for awhile.
3) The use of foul language is no longer allowed. Ok well this one hasn't completely gone away. Yesterday Grant peed on me in the middle of the night when changing his diaper, and I yelled out "Son of a Bitch". Nothing like getting peed on when you are half asleep. I have a potty mouth. And I know this is something I need to work on. Right now I feel like it is ok to cuss in front of Grant because he is baby and doesn't really understand the English language quite yet. But he is soaking up every word. So I need to change this bad habit asap. I really don't want Grant's first word to be the f-word. That would not be good at all. So even though I haven't completely stop cussing. I'm trying to make an effort to stop. Because cussing is not setting a good example for my child, even if he is only 3 weeks old.
4)A full 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep won't be happening anytime soon
Like I've said in a previous blog entry, I've learned that getting 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep is going to be a pipe dream in the next couple of years. My sister-in-law who has a 2 and half year old and a 10 month old, told me she still hasn't gotten a full night of sleep yet. The thought didn't even occur to me that I would be getting sleep in 3 to 4 hour intervals. If I would have know this I think I would have treasured my last night of 8 hour sleep. Though that was the Sunday night which was 4 days before I had Grant. I didn't realize that was going to be my last night of 8 hour sleep. And the other days before I had Grant I was in the hospital, so my sleep was pretty much minimal. Sigh. Oh sleep how I miss you.
5)The small things in life that you use to take for granted become moments you value and treasure.
During the Christmas party at Matt's side of the family. One of his cousins was telling me how once you have kids you enjoy any ounce of alone time you can get. And the only alone time you'll ever get is when you're in the bathroom. She was telling me how her husband would spend 30 minutes in the bathroom. Lock the door, and take a magazine with him. Because that was the only time of peace and quiet he was able to get during the day with a child bothering him. When I heard this I thought this sounded strange. I couldn't understand how going to the bathroom would be a thing to treasure. I thought really, there is no other time you have to yourself? Well now that Grant has entered the world. I know exactly what they are talking about. When I hand the baby to Matt and take a shower, my shower times have doubled in length. What use to be ten minute shower is now a 20 to 30 minute long shower. I don't even want to get out of the shower. I just want to spend as much time as possible in the shower. Because it's my time to enjoy and relax without a screaming fussy baby. I never use to value my showers so much until I had Grant. Now I look forward to them.
6) Baby talk suddenly become part of your everyday language
It's amazing as soon as Grant was born, how my whole sense of language has changed. No longer talking like an adult is important. My new daily language is composed of in a high pitched baby voice "Ah you're so cute, mommy loves you, yes she does!" And when changing his diaper, I always say, "It's ok honeybuns, mommy is just so rude, now isn't she? I know you're mad." I even have a ridiculous cheer I made up that I chant to Grant, "Mommy love Grant, yes I do. Mommy loves Grant, how about you?" Lets just hope I don't start talking to adults that way. It's weird how Matt and I even talk to each other anymore. It's really strange how instantly our entire language has changed, just because of a baby.
7) When you say you'll be somewhere at a certain time, you might as well add an extra hour to that, because having a baby, just takes double the time it use to, to get ready
The other day I was going crazy, because I was trying to get ready to meet my friend, and Grant was fussy and crying. I told her I would see her around one o'clock. Well I didn't even leave the door until one o'clock. And Matt was at work, so I couldn't hand the baby off to him. The time I get him to calm down, I would get ready for like a split second, and he would start to cry again. And getting a baby ready takes forever. I can't wait when I go back to work, because I know it will be extremely frustrating learning a good routine, to get ready, and go to work on time. It's going to be an art to master that.
8) Adult interaction become non-existent.
Not only do you start talking like a baby when you have a baby, but the only adult interaction I ever have anymore is with my husband and Grant. So I savor every moment when I can talk to adults, and have adult conversations. Because it rarely happens anymore. I went to work today to visit my co-workers, and enjoyed it so much just to be able to have conversations with them. I've been so cooped up in the house, that I forgot what its like to have actually adult conversations.
9)You spend more money on your child than you do on yourself. Buying things for myself is no longer a priority. Now it's all about spending a crapload of money on diapers, baby clothes, and other baby accessories. Buying myself pretty things is no longer important. It's sad that when I go to department stores, that I'm no longer excited to look at clothes from myself, but I'm excited to look at clothes for Grant.
10)Lack of sex life.
Need I say more about that one? What even is that, I forget. lol.
So there are my 10 things that have instantly changed since being a parent. Though it's wonderful being a parent, and worth making those changes. I love being a mom!
I miss my sleep the most that's for sure! I take naps whenever the baby sleeps. Best thing ever to do!
So here are the 10 things that instantly changed when I became a mom:
1)I no longer have a led foot, I drive like an old grandma.
For those who know me and have rode in a car with me, can say I'm not the world's best driver. I have many co-workers who avoid riding in a car with me. And I know I'm not the world's best driver, but in my defense, (I better knock on wood) I've only gotten one speeding ticket, which was 5 years ago. And I've only gotten into three car wrecks. Ok that makes me sound like a terrible driver. But in my defense, the first one I just got my license, and I was lost and confused. The other two were black ice related accidents. Which I could have not avoided. Though my Dad and Matt can both argue otherwise. But that is another story. This is why I hate driving in icy and snowy weather! And when I have to drive Grant in that kind of weather I'm going to be a nervous wreck! I was a nervous wreck when I was pregnant with Grant and had to drive in a little snow on the road. I'm super glad it has been a mild winter. But point being even though I'm a not the greatest driver with a lead foot (I usually drive 75-80 miles an hour on the highway when the speed limit it 65, I know I'm bad) as soon as I had Grant, I feel like my driving has instantly changed. I'm now driving 60-65 miles an hour on the highway, and going exactly the speed limit on other roads. And carefully making safe driving decisions. I'm carrying precious cargo. And I couldn't live with myself if my wreckless driving was the reason my little guy gets hurt. So now I drive like an old grandma. People pass me on the highway. And I don't care. I have a baby in the car, so they can get over it.
2) Lack a social life
Hanging out with friends going to trivia night or karaoke, other social gatherings. Those kind of things instantly go out the window. Those kind of things aren't important anymore, I'm not saying I can't have a social life anymore. But certain activities aren't going to happen anymore, at least for awhile. Like going to Wild About Wine at the Cincinnati Zoo. (Which was one of my favorite experiences ever a couple years ago!) Coming home drunk when you have a baby at home, is definitely not a good idea. So social gatherings involves things like seeing my parents, or meeting a friend for lunch. That is as wild as my social gatherings are going to get for awhile.
3) The use of foul language is no longer allowed. Ok well this one hasn't completely gone away. Yesterday Grant peed on me in the middle of the night when changing his diaper, and I yelled out "Son of a Bitch". Nothing like getting peed on when you are half asleep. I have a potty mouth. And I know this is something I need to work on. Right now I feel like it is ok to cuss in front of Grant because he is baby and doesn't really understand the English language quite yet. But he is soaking up every word. So I need to change this bad habit asap. I really don't want Grant's first word to be the f-word. That would not be good at all. So even though I haven't completely stop cussing. I'm trying to make an effort to stop. Because cussing is not setting a good example for my child, even if he is only 3 weeks old.
4)A full 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep won't be happening anytime soon
Like I've said in a previous blog entry, I've learned that getting 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep is going to be a pipe dream in the next couple of years. My sister-in-law who has a 2 and half year old and a 10 month old, told me she still hasn't gotten a full night of sleep yet. The thought didn't even occur to me that I would be getting sleep in 3 to 4 hour intervals. If I would have know this I think I would have treasured my last night of 8 hour sleep. Though that was the Sunday night which was 4 days before I had Grant. I didn't realize that was going to be my last night of 8 hour sleep. And the other days before I had Grant I was in the hospital, so my sleep was pretty much minimal. Sigh. Oh sleep how I miss you.
5)The small things in life that you use to take for granted become moments you value and treasure.
During the Christmas party at Matt's side of the family. One of his cousins was telling me how once you have kids you enjoy any ounce of alone time you can get. And the only alone time you'll ever get is when you're in the bathroom. She was telling me how her husband would spend 30 minutes in the bathroom. Lock the door, and take a magazine with him. Because that was the only time of peace and quiet he was able to get during the day with a child bothering him. When I heard this I thought this sounded strange. I couldn't understand how going to the bathroom would be a thing to treasure. I thought really, there is no other time you have to yourself? Well now that Grant has entered the world. I know exactly what they are talking about. When I hand the baby to Matt and take a shower, my shower times have doubled in length. What use to be ten minute shower is now a 20 to 30 minute long shower. I don't even want to get out of the shower. I just want to spend as much time as possible in the shower. Because it's my time to enjoy and relax without a screaming fussy baby. I never use to value my showers so much until I had Grant. Now I look forward to them.
6) Baby talk suddenly become part of your everyday language
It's amazing as soon as Grant was born, how my whole sense of language has changed. No longer talking like an adult is important. My new daily language is composed of in a high pitched baby voice "Ah you're so cute, mommy loves you, yes she does!" And when changing his diaper, I always say, "It's ok honeybuns, mommy is just so rude, now isn't she? I know you're mad." I even have a ridiculous cheer I made up that I chant to Grant, "Mommy love Grant, yes I do. Mommy loves Grant, how about you?" Lets just hope I don't start talking to adults that way. It's weird how Matt and I even talk to each other anymore. It's really strange how instantly our entire language has changed, just because of a baby.
7) When you say you'll be somewhere at a certain time, you might as well add an extra hour to that, because having a baby, just takes double the time it use to, to get ready
The other day I was going crazy, because I was trying to get ready to meet my friend, and Grant was fussy and crying. I told her I would see her around one o'clock. Well I didn't even leave the door until one o'clock. And Matt was at work, so I couldn't hand the baby off to him. The time I get him to calm down, I would get ready for like a split second, and he would start to cry again. And getting a baby ready takes forever. I can't wait when I go back to work, because I know it will be extremely frustrating learning a good routine, to get ready, and go to work on time. It's going to be an art to master that.
8) Adult interaction become non-existent.
Not only do you start talking like a baby when you have a baby, but the only adult interaction I ever have anymore is with my husband and Grant. So I savor every moment when I can talk to adults, and have adult conversations. Because it rarely happens anymore. I went to work today to visit my co-workers, and enjoyed it so much just to be able to have conversations with them. I've been so cooped up in the house, that I forgot what its like to have actually adult conversations.
9)You spend more money on your child than you do on yourself. Buying things for myself is no longer a priority. Now it's all about spending a crapload of money on diapers, baby clothes, and other baby accessories. Buying myself pretty things is no longer important. It's sad that when I go to department stores, that I'm no longer excited to look at clothes from myself, but I'm excited to look at clothes for Grant.
10)Lack of sex life.
Need I say more about that one? What even is that, I forget. lol.
So there are my 10 things that have instantly changed since being a parent. Though it's wonderful being a parent, and worth making those changes. I love being a mom!
I miss my sleep the most that's for sure! I take naps whenever the baby sleeps. Best thing ever to do!
Thank you for sharing this. I'm due in the next 2 weeks and while I know my life will change, it's good to know just how much from someone who is completely honest about it. :)
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