50 reasons why it's fun to be a parent

[xxbanbanxx]

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50 reasons why it's fun to be a parent



When your baby is crying at three in the morning or your toddler's just thrown his lunch all over your newly mopped floor, it's easy to forget the good bits about being a parent. To help you through the tough times, here's our round up of the things that make parenting fun. You can add your ideas, too, by scrolling down to the parents' tips box at the bottom of the page.

1 Panicking because you've been given this newborn baby to take home and you haven't even got the manual -- then realizing how much fun it is learning on the job.

2 Feeling a tiny fist curl around your finger when you touch his palm.

3 Gazing into your baby's eyes and knowing he trusts you totally.

4 Breathing in the best smell in the world: sleepy baby!

5 Being amazed the first time you wrap him up in his blanket, put him against your shoulder, pat him gently, and, incredibly, the yelling stops!

6 Being the most tired you've ever been in your whole life -- and the most happy.

7 Sitting up in bed feeding your baby in the middle of the night, and knowing that all over the world other mothers are doing just the same.

8 Watching your partner show his son or daughter off to all the visitors.

9 Finding out, at your prenatal class reunion, that no one gets bored of your birth story, no matter how many times you tell it.

10 Overhearing your partner at a party talking earnestly about the best brand of diaper.

11 Watching your baby's sleeping face and wondering what the future holds for him.

12 Discovering how lovely the dawn chorus can be!

13 Taking him out for the first time and discovering that everyone wants to stop and talk.

14 Experiencing that amazing feeling of tenderness when your baby falls asleep in your arms.

15 Buying that baby guitar/Buzz Lightyear action figure/Dr. Seuss Special Edition book you always wanted (even though your baby is only one week old).

16 Discovering how infectious a baby's giggles can be.

17 Having someone to leave the family heirlooms to, even if they're only some love letters that baby's father once wrote to you and your lola's china puppy dog.

18 Exchanging a smile with other stroller-pushing mothers.

19 Dreaming up fantastic food combinations for your baby: avocado and banana, chicken and grapes, or kalabasa and broccoli.

20 Laughing when your baby starts waving at everyone on the bus or in the supermarket.

21 Discovering all the little characteristics that make your baby unique: fat toes, sticking-out ears, hair that sticks up no matter how much it's brushed.

22 Taking millions of photographs, which you keep meaning to put into an album, but never quite get round to it.

23 Developing a new family language as your toddler talks about scissoring the lawn or asks for a bikkit.

24 Having little pairs of tiny pink Crocs or ballerina flats lined up in the hall and/or Action Man underpants scattered on the floor.

25 Knowing the right things to say and the best way to help when your friends have a baby.

26 Watching lola and lolo (and ninang, ninong, tita, and tito) spoil their little treasure rotten.

27 Joining in tactile toddler pleasures like squeezing playdough in your hands, walking barefoot on the grass, or jumping in puddles.

28 Discovering that he's inherited your love of music or his dad's interest in racing cars.

29 or, even better, discovering he has totally different talents, like dancing or painting -- where did that come from?

30 Waking up to a sloppy kiss from your toddler.

31 Rediscovering the simple pleasures in life: brightly colored flowers, the softness of a cat's fur, or the feel of sand between your toes, with your little one.

32 Getting used to being known as Anthony's mom or Vicky's dad.

33 Crying when you see a baby born on TV, understanding how mothers feel everywhere from Beijing to Belfast.

34 Discovering the pleasures of three in a bed -- even if you and your partner only have a few inches of space while your baby lies sideways across middle.

35 Enjoying the chance to be really silly again -- walking around quacking like a duck or sitting at the table wearing a bib and silly hat to encourage your baby to eat.

36 Trying to answer those awkward questions: Do fish sleep? Why is the sky blue? How do cows have babies if they can't get married?

37 Relishing the moment (and every subsequent ones) when he first says, "I love you, Mommy."

38 Re-discovering how brilliant children's books are, even if you do sometimes have to "lose" the one he's wanted every night for the last three weeks!

39 Having one big bubble bath together: and squabbling over who gets the end with the taps.

40 Running up a quick cat costume out of a piece of string, an egg-box and an eye-liner pencil for a party.

41 Multi-tasking: learning how to mix up a bowl of cake mix with one hand while you stick a Band-aid on a toddler's knee with the other, breastfeed a baby and phone your mom to ask her what she wants for her birthday.

42 Discovering the world through your toddler's eyes: seeing him gaze at a caterpillar or stare transfixed on the setting sun.

43 Making a whole new circle of friends, who just happen to be parents, too.

44 Seeing your values: trying to be straight, kind, honest, hard-working and, treating others like you'd like to be treated rub off on him.

45 Enjoying making up with a hug and kiss once a tantrum is over.

46 Going to a Pixar film and no longer being the only unaccompanied adult in the queue!

47 Finding out that bringing up children gives your life a new sense of focus.

48 Crying when you drop him off at playgroup for the first time, then bursting with pride when you pick him up and realize he hasn't missed you at all.

49 Keeping all his best artwork from playgroup and turning your kitchen into your own National Museum.

50 Hearing your child say "mom" and wondering who that is, then realizing -- it's YOU!

[maitoots]

nindot ani sis oi.. true jud kaau ni tanan and so much more pman gni.. me i feel so blessed being able to sleep at night and watching them sleeping as well, waking up in the morning is never the same knowing you have little angels depending on you nothing in the world could buy the joys and tears of being a mother

[bbnescia]

nindot jd kaayo sis! kahinumdom kos bana nako nga d jd kabalo gunit ug bata kay wala may bata jd dri sa ilaha nya among baby kay premature pa jd hastang gamaya...malingaw ko tan aw tawn kay mahadlok basin matagak amo baby.pero karon among baby kay hastang kiata tawn,liwat pa jd niya. eheheheh

[luke0917]

this is so nice. I will be experiencing all of these once i will give birth... hapit na jud, 1 month nlng..

[xxbanbanxx]

this is so nice. I will be experiencing all of these once i will give birth... hapit na jud, 1 month nlng..

congrats sis...priceless blessing na.

[HTjr]

..can't hardly wait to be a dad. ^_^

[xxbanbanxx]

basaha ni ninyo nice kaayo

[mom_in_cebu]

very true and very nice... imiss the times when my kiddos are so timy pa...pero karon super dambuhala heheh...mas dako pa sa inahan...

very nice being a parent. lisod and kapoi pero very fulfilling.

[isidromax]

nindot ni da, feel jud kaayo nako ni, 3 years old pa ako anak.

[nitesky]

kana jud watching your baby sleep so peacefully makes you want to cry bec. of happiness...