https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:28:02 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought/page/2#post-1836156 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 23:41:27 +0000 erinpye 1836156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>MUCH harder. 2 daughters: 28 months and 6 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought/page/2#post-1836117 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 22:42:24 +0000 T-Mom 1836117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids are 6 and 3. Harder in every way! And just when you think you've figured it out, they will throw something new at you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought/page/2#post-1836114 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 22:38:36 +0000 irene 1836114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is this a trick question? Of course 2000 times harder (especially the newborn/baby stage), but 5000 times more rewarding, satisfying, and life changing (for the good and the bad). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought/page/2#post-1836054 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 21:44:44 +0000 sarac 1836054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Easier. I have an almost three year old. I'm really lucky - she's an easy child, and we have a really fun life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought/page/2#post-1836040 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 21:28:26 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 1836040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom had my brother when I was ten and two siblings (y brother and sister) when I was 12, so I had a bit of an idea of how difficult it would be. I knew about the mess and the chaos and the not showering and the cracker crumbs all over the back of the car....what I didn't know was how deep the emotional toll would be! Motherhood really depletes your emotional stores. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought/page/2#post-1836028 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 21:20:38 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 1836028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skipper2010: I agree with everything you said. I remember thinking get during the newborn stage "what was I so scared of?" Then we hit a sleep regression, things were amazing for about a month &amp; now we are interested he same stage (&amp; age) as you are! She is so so sweet &amp; funny &amp; independent &amp; needy &amp; life sucking all at the same time! All in all its about what I expected. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought/page/2#post-1836023 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 21:17:30 +0000 keepcalmcarrie 1836023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both. </p> <p>The colic was worse than anything I could have imagined while I was pregnant. I never thought I'd have a screamy baby (who does?) But the sleep deprivation, breastfeeding, and general care of a newborn were easier than I expected. The toddler phase (so far at 17 months) is challenging sometimes, but he is so funny and smart and exciting with all his new "discoveries" that I'm enjoying it even more than the first year.</p> <p>@lamariniere: That is so comforting to hear! I'm holding out hope that LO#2 will be an easy newborn. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought/page/2#post-1835794 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 18:42:40 +0000 NurseMommy 1835794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: I just worry that I'm not engaging her in the right/enough things/activities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought/page/2#post-1835791 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 18:41:05 +0000 NurseMommy 1835791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: your last point, totally. I'm trying so hard to focus on this for my daughter's well-being and it's really changing how i see myself! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought/page/2#post-1835580 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 16:23:48 +0000 meredithNYC 1835580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Newborn days, WAY harder. Toddler days, easier. To me, it was utterly overwhelming and terrifying trying to determine my newborn's wants/needs. I love my little toddler person with her more developed communication skills! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought/page/2#post-1835524 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 15:58:06 +0000 MrsKoala 1835524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Harder and my LO is 6 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought/page/2#post-1835497 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 15:41:18 +0000 Alivoo01 1835497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: Thanks!! Now if we could quit co-sleeping that'd be fabulous.... lol Love the cuddles, but homie is all over the place during the night and leaves me with a sliver of the bed to sleep on, if I'm lucky! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought/page/2#post-1835488 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 15:37:25 +0000 LovelyPlum 1835488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@NurseMommy: WOHM is *so* much harder than I realized it would be, I agree! Why do you think you're doing it wrong? I'm sure that can't be true :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought/page/2#post-1835480 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 15:33:16 +0000 Corduroy 1835480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The baby stage (newborn to walking/weaning) was so much harder than I anticipated. 4am wake ups for a year, only napping in my arms, always screaming bloody murder as she woke up, hating the car, plus what nursing/pumping did to my body and my marriage, + daycare colds for all of us. Ugh.</p> <p>I feel like we've really hit our stride the last three months or so. So time to TTC #2. :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought/page/2#post-1835474 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 15:27:42 +0000 LovelyPlum 1835474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 4 months old. So far, Both!</p> <p>Things that have been easier:<br /> -making decisions about her well-being. I'm much more confident than I thought I would be.<br /> -BFing, once I got a shield.<br /> -the newborn period in general, especially to 8 weeks</p> <p>Things that have been harder:<br /> -figuring out that she wasn't just colicky but rather had MSPI and reflux. 8-12 weeks was pretty hellish.<br /> -SLEEP DEPRIVATION. That first night, i felt like I was going to die.<br /> -bonding with her at first. Now, it is a different story, but early on, it was hard.<br /> -pumping<br /> -being kind to myself. I am very, very self-critical, and I'm realizing that I need to treat myself how I want her to learn to treat herself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought/page/2#post-1835453 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 15:20:46 +0000 Vegmama 1835453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skipper2010: Harder, but much more rewarding than I could have imagined. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought/page/2#post-1835448 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 15:18:04 +0000 Andrea 1835448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Harder than I thought to be a FTM. Easier than I thought to add another LO into the mix. But now that LO2 is a toddler, it will probably start getting harder again as she starts getting into the 2's... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought#post-1835425 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 15:10:32 +0000 skipper2010 1835425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dreamocracy: Ditto on the marital stress. DH and I never really fought before, and we both have a pretty calm demeanor, so never did I imagine how much stress having a child would put on us as a couple. Like you, we are much stronger now and we're constantly finding new ways to cope with the challenges, but ya I was naive and didn't really expect that. An open line of communication, teamwork, and date nights help a ton! </p> <p>@coopsmama: I feel the same way about the newborn vs the toddler stage.</p> <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: Haha I'm pretty type A myself, so when I see dirty bottles all over my kitchen it really makes me stress! I'm someone who needs to have an organized house for my own sanity and obviously that's not easy with a LO running around, but I've learned to pick my battles and find different ways to make time to clean/organize quickly or before it gets too out of hand.</p> <p>@lamariniere: Nice to hear that LO 2 is an easy baby. Adding a second one to the mix is something that i'm super excited/terrified about!</p> <p>I've really enjoyed reading everyones responses. Nice to know I'm not alone on this crazy ride! haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought#post-1835385 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 14:55:43 +0000 lamariniere 1835385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first three months were way harder than I ever could have expected; BF issues, a high needs newborn who never slept, hormone crash, etc. it was very overwhelming. But it got easier over time. I actually expected it to get really stressful and difficult when LO2 arrived, but it has gone much more smoothly than anticipate. Had I had LO2 first, I would probably have a totally different answer! My second LO is a million times easier than the first. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought#post-1835359 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 14:46:09 +0000 Kelley_lovelikecrazy 1835359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is so interesting. I love everyone's open and honest opinions.</p> <p>I'm going with easier, but I have one ten-month old. Parents of multiple children, or toddlers and older - I have no way of knowing how that will pan out. </p> <p>But I so agree with @Boheme: I didn't realize I would be such a wreck. I absolutely cannot read stories about people losing their children, losing pregnancies, without becoming a total mess and it completely affecting my day/week/life.</p> <p>But ALSO (I'm wordy) I approach life so differently than I ever have. If my daughter is healthy, nothing in the world matters. I was rear ended pretty badly and had this huge long story of hassle after hassle and all I kept thinking was 'Olivia wasn't in the car, I'm the luckiest person in the world.' If people are having a bad day over trivial things, I think .. but why - your children are healthy, you have food, you have a roof - what could you possibly be upset about. I think this positive demeanor she gave me, makes life easier! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought#post-1835305 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 14:36:10 +0000 jhd 1835305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Boheme: Yes! You said this much more clearly than I could have, but this is exactly how I have been feeling lately. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought#post-1835303 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 14:35:57 +0000 catlady 1835303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Overall, harder, although age 0-5 months was really the worst of it (for now!). She was a poor sleeper and very fussy, plus has MSPI, so that was more challenging than I expected. I've been surprised that the last few months have been easier than I imagined. She is 10.5 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought#post-1835291 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 14:31:55 +0000 cascademom 1835291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both. The newborn/early infant months were super hard. It was a hard adjustment on DH and I. We had so many outside pressures and problems that made those months so difficult. I hated the first 6 months or so. I'm hoping with the next one that it'll be a little more manageable since we know what to expect. </p> <p>It's gotten easier and different as he's grown up. It's easier to do somethings, but not others since he's finding his will, words, and self in the world. The tantrums are tough, but communicating is easier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought#post-1835290 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 14:31:00 +0000 swurlygurl 1835290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both, but the opposite of what I expected.</p> <p>I expected infant/first year to be SO hard, and it was SO easy.</p> <p>I expected after 1 to be super easy and smooth sailing, and it kinda sucks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought#post-1835281 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 14:25:36 +0000 NurseMommy 1835281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: thanks for that. :)<br /> @Boheme: so, so true. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought#post-1834858 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 12:45:41 +0000 rattles 1834858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's about the same as I expected, though I was tempted to say harder. I thought it was going to be difficult, but it's different to live it of course! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought#post-1834857 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 12:45:39 +0000 .twist. 1834857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Alivoo01: I am SO glad to hear he's STTN! I didn't know that! You must be a different woman! &lt;3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought#post-1834855 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 12:44:59 +0000 kakimochi 1834855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mamaof2 roger that...moms of 4 wow.<br /> i knew it was gonna be hard, but wow yah, it's hard. I have a 4YO and a 21 month old. i think it's the whole picture thing with kids, you know it won't be like this forever, but each day is a long day filled with so many things to do and take care of, milestones and challenges, and the next day it just repeats, and so on and so on, it doesn't feel like it will end, there are breaks but they are few and seem too short. but we all do it for a simple reason right? because at the end of the day, there's nothing better than getting a hug, a kiss, a big smile, and a "I wuv you" from your little one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought#post-1834852 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 12:44:22 +0000 Alivoo01 1834852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a mixed bag since I was preparing myself for the worst from the get go. The lack of sleep, the endless cries, etc. DS ended up being a terrible sleeper but I think it was because I was nursing. The moment I quit when he turned 1, he immediately started STTN! meanwhile, he awesome during the day and an awesome traveler so I really shouldn't complain. I think the first 3 months were the hardest while I was still learning to understand/read my son. Once I knew the difference in his cries, it was easier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-parenting-easier-or-harder-than-you-thought#post-1834837 Mon, 25 Aug 2014 12:40:04 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1834837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With #1, baby stage felt harder than I expected, but the toddler stage was much easier! I actually really enjoy toddlerhood for the most part. Everything's easier the 2nd time around. </p>