Before kids, I never knew…

Transitions.  Especially since having children, I feel like their growth has made me realize how fast they are growing and we (my husband and I) are trying to keep up as we are on this journey.  Just in a baby’s first year of life, there are so many things that happen–exponential growth, development, and transitions from one stage to the next.  As we try to keep pace, and maybe even get ahead at times to anticipate the next phase, I find myself thinking and realizing that there are clear changes within myself now as a parent versus to my pre-parent self.  Perhaps this could develop to be a poem of sorts with the recurring dakine…just read ‘um below.

Before kids, I never knew that I would want to be a stay-at-home-mom.

Before kids, I never knew that I would value things like a baby’s perfectly shaped round head.

Before kids, I never knew that I would worry about the most nonstatistically-likely dangerous thing happening when it comes to my kids.

Before kids, I never worried about money, paying bills on time, or making sure there would be enough to pay for my daughter’s school tuition.

Before kids, I never knew the difficulty in choosing the right school, or other important life decisions for my children, would keep me up at night.

Before kids, I never knew that kids had to be taught how to do, what I thought were, “simple” things–how to eat, how to sleep (at normal sleeping hours).

Before kids, I never knew why my mom was always such a worrier.

Before kids, I never appreciated my mom as much as I do now.

Before kids, I never knew how much I would willingly sacrifice for my kids.

Before kids, I never knew how much I would love being a mom.

I could go on, but I think it would be SUPER cool if you would share how you would fill-in-the-blank.  “Before kids, I never knew______________________________.”  Comment below.