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Last Updated on September 25, 2016 by karissa ancell
I’ve learned a lot about being a parent over the last eight years. Somethings were a surprise to me and some weren’t. So if you aren’t a parent yet here is what you might have to look forward to. If you are a parent, what have you learned. I know I will continue to learn more as my daughter grows up and if I have more kids there will be different lessons.
1. Nothing is more terrifying than the thought of something being wrong with your child, especially when you have no control over it. There pain is the worst and you will do anything to prevent it.
2. You will do things you don’t feel like doing just because it makes your child happy. It’s all part of being a mom.
3. You will see other people in things your child does. She is so much like her dad but also a lot like other family members. It’s weird seeing so much of my husbands traits in her.
4. Anytime you hear of a hurt or abused child you will imagine how horrifying it would be if it was your own child. There are some movies and shows that are really difficult to watch because I just can’t handle thinking of my own child being hurt.
5. It’s a fine line between protecting them and wanting them to be safe and being overly worried and protective over them. I don’t want to smother her and not let her explore the world but I also want to keep her safe.
6. I literally could not imagine loving someone as much as I love my daughter. I want more kids but honestly could not imagine loving another person as much as Isabella. I know I will and parents do it’s just hard to imagine.
7. As amazing as all kids are your child seems the most amazing. I love parent conferences and hearing how great she’s doing and watching her excel in dance class.
8. You will worry at how fast kids are growing up these days. Bella is getting old so fast and kids these days are growing up and maturing so fast. I worry about boys and dressing appropriately, Before I know it there will be dates, cell phones and driving. This is all too scary for me.
9. You won’t be a perfect parent know matter what you do so just do your best as a mom and love your children I’ve learned that is the most important things.
10. They will sometimes be just like you both good and bad. You will see traits of yours reflected back at you through them and it can sometimes remind you to be patient. Like I hated homework growing up, I liked school but not homework my daughter is the same way. So I try to be patient with her and remind myself that I was the same.
So thank you Bella for teaching me so much about parenting these past 8 years.
I love you so much, more than you can imagine.
Joanna Sormunen says
It’s amazing the things your children teach to you! What a wonderful post, I’m glad I read it. My son has taught me so many things too.
Rebecca says
aww! Bella is adorable. I love your lessons! I agree with the fine line between worrying and being overbearing..it’s a tough one to balance for me!
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Karissa says
Thank you!
Brandy says
I agree that children teach us so much and that, as a Mom, I have learned so many things I didn’t know. I know that I never knew love in the way I know love now, since having my three children and one step child. It’s amazing what a Mom can do for their kids, just to keep the peace, teach lessons and show unconditional love!
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Cia from Cia Says says
#2 is it in a nutshell. Your life will completely change. No I didn’t want to stay up until the wee hours. No I didn’t want to see the lego movie everyday for a month and a half straight. Its because of the child. Lovely piece. 🙂
Karissa says
Thank you!
elly stornebrink says
A touching post Karissa and lovely tribute to your daughter. Those are all wonderful lessons learned and truly, for some of those reasons like #4 is why I do not want kids. That may sound strange or weird, but I didn’t want to bring up a child in today’s world in part for that reason. That’s not why I didn’t have kids though, but in the end I’m glad I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong: I do love children…I just don’t want my own. <3
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Carly Anderson says
I definitely agree with all of these lessons. It’s so crazy how much we can learn after becoming a parent.
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Freya says
All of these are very recognizable, spot on. You’re daughter is very cute.
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Kae James says
Aww she is so cute! I know exactly how you feel. Since becoming a mother I worry about everything when it comes to my child.
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Suzanne Rudge says
As parents we definitely grow right along side of our kiddos. I learn something new everyday from my kids.
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Rebecca Swenor says
I think none of us moms know how to mother when our children are born. We just do it the best we know how. Thanks for sharing.
Barbie's Beauty Bits says
Great post, you make so many great and true points!
Karissa says
Thanks!
Ann Bacciaglia says
I totally agree with your post. It is a huge fear that something will happen to my kids. Your daughter is so cute.
April @ Everyday Fitness and Nutrition says
My girls are now 17 and 21 so we’ve been through the whole thing. It’s so amazing to see them grow and develop into individuals even though you see traits of family members in them.
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kendall says
Love this – so true! I do things ALL the time when I don’t feel well – if it makes them smile it makes me happy 🙂
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Amanda @ Adorkablii says
I think we learn more from our children then they learn from us.
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celebbabylaundry says
Once you get older you think you’ve seen it all, but it is amazing how it’s like a whole brand new journey once you become a mother!
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Myrabev says
I do not yet have kids but I will keep these in mind, thanks for the sharing
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Danielle says
#2 and #10 are a big yes. I hate playing video games and my kid wants me to sit and just watch him play and I can’t do anything but watch I limit it to an hour or I will die of boredom…lol. My child definitely has my personality and man he is stone cold with his sarcasm and wit sometimes I feel bad for other people.
Nina Say says
#1. Always #1. That is always my thought when my daughters at school and firetruck rolls up (we can see the school from our front yard)
Yep, I’m a worry wart.
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Carrie Ann Tripp (@CarrieAnnTripp) says
I agree with Alana above. God speaks to me through my children. I know He has placed me in their lives for me to speak His Word to them, but so often I find the situation reversed.
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kristin says
This list is very True. Im still learning new things every day. Some days are harder than others.
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Shantha says
It’s amazing how much motherhood grows and shapes us.
Margarita Ibbott says
Your love doubles and triples when you have more kid. I didn’t think I could love more and I did when I had my other two.
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Elizabeth O. says
What a journey! Motherhood’s really great, I think.
Vanessa says
I see so many of my relatives in my daughter. Bella is so beautiful by the way, great smile!!
Andrea Callahan says
Totally agree! Motherhood is a wonderful journey, nonetheless.
Alana says
Sometimes, I think we learn more from our children than they learn from us. It’s an amazing journey.
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Adanna says
I absolutely agree with these. Motherhood to me is a journey. I’ve learned so much about life and myself in the past 4 years since I’ve become a mom.
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Michelle says
Wow I’ve always wondered about some of these things haha, thanks for posting! Very insightful!
Jacqueline says
When I was in my teens, my father wouyld always tell me how much I was acting like my mother. They had a bad divorce lol and I at the time I didn’t see myself in her at all! As an adult I can see my impulsiveness is a learned behavior from Mom. Thanks, mom lol 🙂
Liz Mays says
Isn’t it incredible how much we can love them? It makes me laugh when I recognize traits and behaviors in them. 🙂
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Mary says
I dont have children, but I can certainly relate to a lot of this when I think of my nieces and nephews, and their children.
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Nichole says
Truth! I never new love until I had kids. And it’s amazing that each child brings a different love and your heart just grows.
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Eileen says
It’s amazing what kids can teach us! Sounds like you’ve had a great journey through motherhood.
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Courtney says
Number one! That’s my biggest fear…. We all do the best we can though 😉
Franc Ramon says
I guess parents situations change and the important thing is to adopt faster than their children. They also have endless concern on their kid’s welfare.
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Kungphoo says
I have to agree 100% with #1. The worst fear i have is when my kids are hurt and they cannot tell me why or how. Its a helpless feeling.
Lisa says
This is a wonderful post. I’d like to share something I’ve learned from being a mother that I think every mother AND father should know. Some days, you will want to murder your kids – figuratively, of course – that’s okay. Just because you love them to pieces doesn’t mean they won’t drive you nuts sometimes.
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aimee fauci says
Such all true points! Especially scary when they act like me.. I just look at my daughter and think .. oh no, we have trouble 😉
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
I think we all just have to do what is best for our own family. Who really cares what others think, right?
Fi Ní Neachtáin says
I agree with everything you’ve learned as I feel the same. If I ever hear of a child being abused, bullied or hurt I always imagine if that happened to my son. It breaks my heart.
Dorit Sasson says
I know exactly how you feel when you say you feel you could never love another one after your first. I recently had my second after nine years and it’s a completely surreal feeling! I couldn’t imagine another child after my first, but now I can’t imagine our lives without the second. It’s so weird how this all works out in the end. Our children are so precious!! Great post!
Dorit Sasson
[email protected] says
Number 9 – AMEN! For years I felt that I wasn’t a “perfect” mom. That the perfect mom didn’t exit. I’m just mom doing the best at being a mom. Love this post!
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Heather says
OH wow! AMEN to all of these! You are right on!
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Ty Oliver says
Being a mother has taught me a lot about myself. It has provided life lessons that taught me how to love unconditionally , selfless, and so giving of my time.
Chelsea Green says
I don’t have kids but I can relate to a lot of these. I have nephews and I would do anything for them. I also have a weird obsessed relationship with my dog so I can only imagine how protective I will be with my future kids. Great post!