Hellobee

Being a parent is quite the learning experience. You start off with no idea what you’re doing and basically make it up as you go along, until one day you kind of feel like you might have the hang of it. I’m two years into this whole being-a-mom gig and I still feel like I’m faking it more often than not.

One thing I can say for myself, however, is that I have learned so much along the way. I’m by no means an expert and I still find myself completely floundering some days, but as a whole I have grown so much since Jackson was born. I’m constantly learning new lessons about myself, so I thought today I’d share a few things that parenting has taught me so far.

Legos. Everywhere. Always.

Parenting has taught me that I can handle way more mess than I thought I could. I’ve always been a bit of a neat freak, and I’ve always struggled with the chaos of a cluttered house. But now that I have a toddler (while also working full-time), I’ve come to realize that some things in life are a lot more important than a clean house. There are many nights that I go to bed with dishes in the sink, toys strewn all over the living room, and clothes still in the dryer. Before becoming a parent, that would have driven me absolutely crazy, but now I barely even notice.

Parenting has taught me that I’m capable of so much more than I ever thought possible. I’ve always been a bit timid when it comes to taking care of “grown up” things by myself (I hate talking on the phone, I’m terrible with conflict, and I get nervous going to unfamiliar places), but since becoming a parent I’ve been thrust into so many different situations in which I have to be the adult, and there isn’t anyone there to help me. Moms aren’t allowed to be afraid of the dark or things that go “bump” in the night when they’re the only adults at home! Having Jackson has taught me that sometimes I can completely fake it and no one will know the difference… and maybe, just maybe, I’m not the only adult who is only pretending I know what I’m doing.

Being a mom has taught me that it’s possible to put someone else’s needs in front of my own 100% of the time and not even mind. It doesn’t matter if I’m tired, sick, or hungry – if Jackson needs me, I’m there. I always assumed that I would feel frustrated by the need to take care of someone else before I even think about myself, but it doesn’t bother me in the least. Jackson is my priority, and it doesn’t even phase me if I have to set aside me own needs every once in a while to make sure it’s okay. But on the flip side…

Parenting has taught me that sometimes I have to step away and take care of myself. I can sometimes get caught up in making sure that Jackson is always happy and well taken care of, and I forget about my own needs. When I start to feel like I can’t handle it anymore, I find a way to take a few hours for myself where I can stop thinking about anything but what I want to do. I’ve also learned since having Jackson that I am much more of a homebody than I ever thought I was, and my need for social interaction is pretty low…I’m a sucker for a good Friday night at home catching up on Netflix!

These moments are my favorite part of the day! 

And finally, being a parent has been an incredibly eye-opening experience as to what my priorities truly are. I used to allow work to take over my life, I used to let little stressors get to me, and I used to get so wrapped up in the day-to-day that I forgot to focus the things that matter.

But now? I spend time actively working to learn how to get my priorities in line and keep them that way. I’m getting much better about remembering not to let the little things at work distract me from my time with my family, and when I am home I’m constantly working on being completely present in every moment. It’s still a work in progress (and probably will always be), but parenting has taught me how important it is to let go of anything that doesn’t truly matter – and it’s much easier than I thought it would be!

What are some things you’ve learned about yourself since becoming a parent?