7 Things Parents Secretly Sacrifice in Order to Improve Their Children's Lives
Throughout our lives, our parents provide us with numerous gifts. They never stop giving from before our birth to our youth and even into our adult years... even if it means sacrificing their own desires and needs. We seldom realize how much they do for us until we have children of our own. Even then, we don't always realize until it's too late and they're gone. So, let's make a difference. Continue reading to learn about 7 things that all parents quietly sacrifice to make their children's life better. Then thank your parents for everything they've done for you.
Things Parents Secretly Sacrifice in Order to Improve Their Children's Lives
The other day, I came across a nice phrase that said, "Appreciate your parents." You never know the lengths to which they went to for you." It made me reflect on the sacrifices we all make for our children, which led me to understand that our parents made similar sacrifices for us. Here are the top ten things that parents give up to ensure that their children have a better life, ranging from little sacrifices to big life transformations.
1. Get some rest.
Early on in parenthood, sleep deprivation is so frequent that it's virtually an inside joke among moms and dads. The fact is, it doesn't stop after our children start sleeping through the night. It lasts for the whole of their childhood and beyond.
We take turns staying up all night to ensure that our children do not wander during their first nights in their "big kid" bed. Our nerves keep us tossing and turning the night before their first day of kindergarten. We stay up all night modifying their costume when they announce that they want to be Elsa instead of Anna for Halloween. The list, like the sleepless nights, goes on and on.
2. Mindfulness
Everyone has anxieties from time to time, but before having children, you at least have the option of a respite. You know that once you've taken care of your tasks, you may relax and unwind completely, allowing your anxieties to slip away, if only for a short while.
However, once you have children, you will always, always, always have at least one worry tugging at the back of your mind. That little voice is whispering, "What if....?" even when you think you're feeling quite Zen-like. Peace of mind is no longer a possibility.
3. A consistent schedule
Schedules were thrown out the window the instant our children entered the world (either late or early, because very few babies are born on their due date). Tantrums, sick days, and scavenger hunts for your shoes aren't covered by any color-coded family calendar. What's the sad part? Many employers see that parents prioritize their children over their jobs, so they discriminate against them, which isn't always unlawful. So keeping a consistent schedule can cost us more than just the illusion of a more organized life; it can also cost us our jobs.
4. The ability to act on the spur of the moment
Sure, we appear to be totally free spirits to our kids, surprising them with weekend vacations or fun adventures. All those "unplanned" occasions, we know, revolved solely around them. Our parents unwittingly give up our freedom to take unexpected vacations or accept last-minute party invitations.
5. Personal space
Children have no notion of privacy until they reach the age of adolescence and seek it for themselves (but very rarely give it to you in return). We forget what it was like to go to the restroom or take a shower alone when we were kids. We quickly discover that everything we say (even if we think we're not paying attention) will be aired to the wrong person at the wrong moment.
6. The passage of time
Have you ever considered how much time we devoted solely to our children? Here's a hint: it's pretty much every waking hour of their life for the first 18 years. We only take a few moments for ourselves after ensuring that all of their needs and desires have been addressed. Then we felt horrible about it (that's one of the top five reasons moms constantly feel guilty).
7. Companionship
It's difficult to maintain friendships with your childless pals after you have children. You make an effort, but your children come first. They stop inviting you places after a while because you keep canceling at the last minute when Tommy gets sick or Susie has a nightmare. You realize you're okay with it because you no longer have anything in common with them. Before you know it, your "best buddy for life" has become just another name on your Christmas card list, and your new social circle consists solely of Susie and Tommy's friends' parents.
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