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Sunday, September 29, 2013

Unsolicited Advice to First Time Parents-To-Be

Here is some advice I want to give you.

  • Sleep as much as you can. Right now. Get off the internet and go take a nap.
  • Don't judge parents. I saw something the other day that said "I was an excellent parent, until I had children" and ain't that the truth. I swore up and down that my child would never dictate my schedule. And well, I guess that is still true. I choose to be home every night at 7, and wake up every morning at 7. Yep. My choices. Truth is, once your little bundle is here, you aren't as important anymore. Neither is your time.
  • Let your baby be fabulous. Don't hold your baby back.

  • Don't read parenting books. Since the beginning of time children have been born. The date of the beginning of time may be up for debate, but that fact isn't. Babies have always been born, as have parents. While undoubtedly, some have been better than others, there are a billion parenting books out there. How do you know you have the one? Before Isaiah was born I bought two books. And I gave both of them away shortly after starting to read them. These give you the worst case scenario, and that's fine if you can handle it. I, however, cannot. I'd rather deal with it as it happens. One piece at a time. I consult the internet from time to time, as well as friends who are parents for specific pieces of information I'm interested in, but to read every detail about what could happen only gives me things to worry about.
  • Don't be afraid to let your baby cry. Sometimes it can be hilarious. I was terrified to let Isaiah cry and would run to him every time he made a noise. That is officially over, and if I know nothing is wrong, he can cry. Call it vocal development, if you will.

  • It doesn't matter how many degrees you have, you don't know what you're doing. And neither does anyone else. I'm 3/4 of the way to my second bachelors degree, spent six years in college, and still do not to know why I had to buy my child organic puffs. He doesn't have allergies, and I know once he gets the pincer grab down I'm going to be sending him French fries from the front seat. See #2.
  • Let your baby take selfies. It's a rite of passage.

  • Don't take everything so seriously. Clearly, choking is serious, Blowouts, a bit too much television, or not having 74 vegetables with dinner? Nothing to freak out about. See #2.
  • Don't take unsolicited advice. It's crap and people don't know what they're talking about. Think for yourself.

12 comments:

  1. Amen! Very well said. It's all fine and dandy to picture the perfect parents we think we'll be...but then we have kids an all of that changes! :)

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    1. So many things changed. Mainly that I wouldn't let our kids watch television. Ha. Ha.

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  2. That selfie is the best thing I have seen all week!

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  3. :) Also I believe getting french fries from Mom/Dad while you're in the backseat is a right of passage. I have fond memories of that!

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  4. Ha! I love the one about letting your baby be fabulous. I am not a parent yet, but I am so scared of the lack of sleep thing! I get 8-9 hours PER NIGHT right now. I don't know. I'll be like a zombie once I have a kid. No sleep ever.

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    1. I hear you, girl. Same here. I sat Isaiah down while we were still in this hospital though and told him how it was going to be. I got so lucky that he listened because he is so great about sleep.

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  5. Oh my gosh, I love this list, they are all so true! Parenting books make you feel bad about yourself, and yes, I still don't know what I'm doing most of the time, haha! I'm learning as I go along. Love the selfies one too!

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    1. Haha, thank you! I try to limit his cell phone time but he's always on it taking pics of himself.

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  6. Oh. My. Gosh. Angela. This post made me laugh. Thank you. Your baby is so beautiful and that selfie is priceless. XOXO

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    1. Haha, thanks! I can't get him off my phone.

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