Nico is 7 months, 3 weeks and 3 days old today.I was in the middle of going through an article in Little Treasures titled 75 great things about being a parent and mentally ticking off the ones I agreed with, when Nico threw up some milk on my newly washed black jumper.
It took all my strength not to think of another 74 not-so-great things about being a parent.
Some of these things (the great ones, that is) are:
- Watching your child sleep and just melting inside
- For a few short years, there's someone who thinks you're absolutely perfect
- Not being pregnant any more (at least for a while)
- The feeling of a fuzzy little head under your chin
- It puts an end to wondering whether you are fertile
- Your relationship with your own mother and father improves
- A good night's sleep never felt so good
- Finding out you can do most things with only one hand
- You're never stuck for things to do
- All that soft, perfect skin for you to kiss
- Birthdays become a real cause for celebration
- Holding little hands
- You find out you have more love to give than you ever thought you were capable of
- You can talk endlessly and animatedly with any other parent of young children
- You realise how much your parents love you
- You've got something to contribute to all those fascinating and graphic discussions women have about what it's like giving birth
- The smell of a new baby
- When your baby smiles at you
- Carrying a little baby in a baby sling or front pack
- Having a rest from thinking about your own needs and wants
- You don't have to agonise any more over whether or not you should have a baby
- Your parents stop nagging you about when you're going to make them grandparents
- There's a real point to keeping the planet tidy
- You become much faster at getting showered and dressed
- Blowing raspberries on your baby's tummy
- You can sing, hum and dance funny without being criticised - at least until they're three
- Watching your partner bath your baby makes you realise he hasn't really lost his caring streak
- You've got someone else to blame for your messy, grubby house
- Lots and lots of lovely cuddles
- After years of slugging it out in the tough, competitive workplace, you rediscover your sentimental side
- If you breastfeed, you can have a second blueberry muffin and tell yourself you're doing it for the baby
- Watching the sun shine through leaves with your baby. His wonder makes you look at the world with fresh eyes
- You learn to share - your time, your money, your thoughts and ideas
- You can justify getting takeaways more easily
- Kids make you get some exercise, even if you weren't really intending to get it
- You drive much, much more carefully
- You have 100s and 1000s in your cupboard again
- Until he's learned better, your child won't point out that you're having a bad hair day
- You know who you belong to
