
Becoming a parent
The moment a pregnancy test is positive or the foster/adoption approval comes through, you begin to wonder…
- What am I going to do?
- What does it feel like to be a parent?
- How will I be the same and how will I be different?
- Will I still be able to be spontaneous, do what I did before?
- How will this birth affect my work, my career, the rest of my life?
- Will I be bored?
- Will staying home with a child be enough for me?
- What if something’s wrong with the baby? Will I be able to take it?
- Will the baby miss me while I’m away at work?
- Will it be all right for the baby to be cared for by other people?
- Will the baby be more attached to their child care person than me?
- Will my work suffer because I have a baby?
- Will my baby suffer because my job is demanding?
- Will I be able to afford the added expenses?
- What will I have to give up?
- Will I need to take on extra work?
- Have I done anything unknowingly that could have affected their development?
- Am I strong enough to accept it if something’s wrong?
- Will I be able to handle labor?
- What if I screw it up?
- Will I still have a life?
Nothing will ever be quite the same once this little mystery person enters your life. And this applies to second, third, fourth and fifth children as well. Every new baby that enters the scene brings a new set of questions. Of course these questions change with time, but every addition to the family brings about many unknowns.
Other influences on the image making stage of parenting are the circumstances under which the new baby comes into your life, the culture in which you live, the expectations you feel from others and social media.
Just as children go through stages of development, parents go through stages of development too. Preparation for being a parent, either through birth, placement or adoption, in any lifestyle, in any locale, is a time of inward reflection. You are getting your head around the upcoming change and you are doing the internal work required.
It sure helps to know that there’s a process and that what you’re feeling, asking and fearing is normal, universal and okay!
You’ve got this parenting thing. You are exactly the person that YOUR baby needs. And you are very important. 😍
Want to learn more? Check out Parenting 101: Expectations vs reality
Celebrate your pregnancy! Things you can only enjoy when you’re pregnant
And preparing for baby’s arrival… My newborn essential list