Everyone knows that having a baby changes your life in
dramatic, and sometimes unbelievable, ways. Knowing that and living it are two
completely different things! The following are some ways that your life as a
man will be changed forever once your little bundle of joy arrives.
1. You become a morning person and a late night person all
in one.
Guess what, no more sleeping in for you for the next 10 – 18
years! Newborns need to be fed every two hours. If mommy is breastfeeding then
you’re off the hook, but once that newborn becomes a toddler get ready for your
world to be turned inside out. Toddlers wake up and go to sleep on their own
terms most of the time, which brings us to the next point.
2. You will no longer rely on a clock; your child will set
your schedule for you.
If it’s diaper-changing time at 2am then you’re getting up
at 2am. If it’s snack time at 2pm and then again at 3pm, then you’re doing
snack time. Of course, it is possible to put kids on somewhat of a schedule but
don’t plan on this always working, especially during teething.
3. Nothing belongs to you anymore.
Everything is now shared with baby, whether you want that to
happen or not! Having a child is similar to having a pet monkey. For being so
small, toddlers sure can climb and get into everything. You have a fancy car?
Nope. It’s baby’s new dumpster for unwanted food. You have a nice collection of
shoes and watches? Nope. Baby has some nice accessories that he/she will
sometimes allow you to use. In fact, that leads us to the next point.
4. Instead of buying yourself something nice, you’re buying
toys.
Most people actually don’t mind this part. Personally, I
would much rather buy my little princess all kinds of things and watch her face
light up each time than buy something for myself that I’ll use once or twice.
If you live with your parents and would rather spend hundreds on shoes rather
than put it into a savings account, you might want to reconsider having
children for a few years.
5. Instead of going to the club with your boys, you’re
reading bedtime stories.
Men more often than women, miss their independence from
pre-baby life. As soon as that little one arrives, your “normal” activities
will become reserved for special events. And to take it one step further…
6. No more spontaneous outings.
You won’t be coming home after work and saying to your
partner “Let’s just go out to eat tonight.” It is not the two of you any more
and not every place is child-friendly. Every time my boyfriend and I want to go
somewhere we have to either find a sitter, which is nearly impossible on short
notice, or figure out a place that the toddler will fit in at.
7. Your childless friends start to disappear.
This is unfortunately almost completely unavoidable. Your
friends without children just don’t understand what it takes to be a parent and
all the ways in which your life has to change. Don’t worry about being
friendless though! Your child will become your new best friend for life plus,
through them you will meet plenty of other parents.
Having a child is one of the most difficult and stressful
things you will ever do in your life. The average middle class family spends
$225,000 on just one child from birth to the age of 17. That only includes the
necessities. Toys, daycare, any fancy child clothing, going to college, that’s
all extra. It’s hard being a parent and anyone who tells you otherwise is
totally lying but it is also extremely rewarding. So you have to give up a lot
of your freedom and independence (and spend a ton of money) but you’re gaining
so much more. You will never understand what it means to truly love another
person until you look into your child’s face.
Click me! Click me! If your life is getting to be too much to handle, here are 52 ways to reduce stress when you have kids.
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