Keeley’s March Challenge #21
Did Becoming a Parent Change Me?
It certainly changed my life!
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Minutes after my first son was born, I was sitting in the hospital room holding him in my arms.
Then he opened his eyes and looked at me.
That’s when I felt a tremendous sense of responsibility.
Earlier this month, he turned 18.
When my second son was born about a year later, my sense of responsibility did not feel like it had doubled, which was a relief.
I’m not saying it was a case of, “Yeah, another one. Whatever.”
But I was already a parent by then. The change from not being a parent to being a parent had already taken place.
Having lost my dad when I was 22, I hoped my children would not lose their parents until they were much older. Tragically, however, their mum died when they were 7 and 8.
Given that my late wife and I were nearly 37 and 38 when our children were born, perhaps waiting so long to have children was not the best way to alleviate that worry.
My children have had a massive impact on my life. Everything changed from the moment they were born, and they became the main focus.
The parent-child relationship has so many different characteristics compared with other relationships.
Apart from the responsibility, there is the automatic, built-in desire to protect them and keep them safe and healthy.
I want my children to do better, and have a better life than me. Rather than feeling like I’m in competition with them, I feel happy when they can do things better than me.
Physically, being a parent has meant less sleep. Even now that they’re older, I still get up first and go to bed last. No wonder I’m tired!
I never drank alcohol to excess. But I stopped completely once my children were born because I felt like I had to be on call 24 hours a day.
It’s hard to know whether it’s being a parent or just a part of getting older. But I have not spent as much money on myself since being a parent. I buy cheaper clothes for myself, and I cut my own hair.
