https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 16 May 2026 10:34:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-surprised-you-about-parenthood#post-1830486 Fri, 22 Aug 2014 07:57:28 +0000 rattles 1830486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In the early, newborn days, I was most surprised by the total lack of personal space. Dd was a terrible sleeper and was one of those babies who screamed when put in a baby holder (bouncer, R&amp;P, etc). She always wanted to be worn or held. Between that, the transition to SAHM, and nursing on demand, I felt like she was always on my person. I never understood how it might be a challenge to get in a shower or how I might be totally touched out before DH ever got home before that. Somewhat related, I wasn't surprised by the lack of freedom, but dd refused to take a bottle from 5 months on, and I was surprised at how long I then felt like I was on a short leash. </p> <p>I was surprised at how I would keep score between what DH and I had done for LO in the early days. Totally unhelpful and much better now with practice, so fx I'll be better at this with LO2.</p> <p>How completely and happily I would give myself to her in exchange for only snuggles and smiles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-surprised-you-about-parenthood#post-1830312 Fri, 22 Aug 2014 01:57:32 +0000 Cherrybee 1830312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm amazed by how quickly it changes - day by day, week by week. Just when I think I've got it figured out, the game changes again and Im floundering! Just when I think I can't handle any more sleepless nights/feeding issues/teething, a switch is flipped and its all over - but the new phase has its own challenges! Its like being on a roller coaster. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-surprised-you-about-parenthood#post-1830184 Thu, 21 Aug 2014 22:19:10 +0000 loveisstrange 1830184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably how insanely emotional I'd get about everything. Like... I still turn into a sobby hot mess packing away outgrown clothes. ("Oh... My... God.... When did my.... Sob.... Baby get so.... Sob.... Big?!")</p> <p>I'm a pretty apathetic kind of person usually, so getting all teary over all the little stuff threw me for a loop. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-surprised-you-about-parenthood#post-1830182 Thu, 21 Aug 2014 22:16:17 +0000 hellocupcake 1830182@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: this. I thought I was the only one. Death seems so much more real now. I think about her growing up without me or missing her wedding day...</p> <p>I think I was most surprised by how amazing it feels to be her mom. It feels like a dream. I can't get over his perfect she is. People told me it was awesome, I always wanted to be a mom, but THIS? This is beyond my wildest dreams. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-surprised-you-about-parenthood#post-1830176 Thu, 21 Aug 2014 22:12:42 +0000 Kemma 1830176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: yep, I feel like it's almost a grieving process? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-surprised-you-about-parenthood#post-1830171 Thu, 21 Aug 2014 22:10:53 +0000 jedeve 1830171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: yes! I don't wish for it back, for sure, but I wish I had appreciated it then. Someone has been depending on my body through breastfeeding or pregnancy, every day for two years. Walking out of the house without thinking about anyone else would feel so foreign at this point. But also lonely. </p> <p>@Mrs. High Heels: OMG I had a "mother's helper" come the other morning. She kept talking about how tired she was and that she was going to take a nap in the afternoon. I just hope she remembers that when she has a newborn, haha. </p> <p>@runnerd: I felt like that so much with my first. My second is more of a mama's boy. But it's so hard when you think being a mom = the person they want more than anything.</p> <p>I also have this theory that it is harder to listen to your own baby cry. It's like nails on a chalkboard to me and I NEED to make it stop. I think it's biology. Other kids crying doesn't bother me. So maybe that's why it feels personal? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-surprised-you-about-parenthood#post-1830164 Thu, 21 Aug 2014 22:06:45 +0000 jedeve 1830164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: I need to tattoo that on myself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-surprised-you-about-parenthood#post-1830129 Thu, 21 Aug 2014 21:38:12 +0000 mlm2934 1830129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: I agree with being surprised that I don't feel like a walking zombie! Even after the rough nights, a few cups of coffee do the trick.</p> <p>I have been surprised by how insecure I am. The only way I can describe my feelings on bad days is that I feel like my baby doesn't like me. I didn't know I'd take all the crying so personally. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-surprised-you-about-parenthood#post-1830123 Thu, 21 Aug 2014 21:33:37 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1830123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: Yes!</p> <p>@Mae: Another thing that surprised me was the mommy wars. Had no idea it was a thing pre-parenthood.</p> <p>Also surprised that I had no idea what busy or tired really meant until I became a parent. I regret all the times I said, "I'm so tired" or "I have no time" to the seasoned mom's in my life, who graciously bit their tongue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-surprised-you-about-parenthood#post-1830110 Thu, 21 Aug 2014 21:27:11 +0000 Mae 1830110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: I wonder if it is a difference of expectations? I think maybe because LO was a surprise baby and we weren't planning on trying for a bit, I sort of had a very negative view of parenthood. I mean, I was excited for LO but I pretty much expected to be a sleep deprived zombie who hated my life for at least the first 2 years. The fact that I don't hate my life is a massive improvement of expectations for me haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-surprised-you-about-parenthood#post-1830108 Thu, 21 Aug 2014 21:26:55 +0000 Vegmama 1830108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: I have been surprised at how emotional I've become. Just feeling all of the feelings!! I'm protective, and loving, and I worry, and I love. I just had no idea how much a little being could change my life</p> <p>Oh, and I'm surprised by how someone so small has changed our home. While sitting down to watch TV the other night, we looked around and laughed at all the little "it's obvious a baby lives here" thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-surprised-you-about-parenthood#post-1830106 Thu, 21 Aug 2014 21:25:49 +0000 Mae 1830106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: yes to missing your baby! I spend all day with her right now and if she naps for 2 hrs I honestly miss her. And I'm like omg I'm nuts i'm with her 24/7! lol serious mommy hormones man. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-surprised-you-about-parenthood#post-1830103 Thu, 21 Aug 2014 21:25:39 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1830103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly? How much I'd miss my freedom. That first year more than ever. I've adjusted now, but it took a lot of getting used to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-surprised-you-about-parenthood#post-1830099 Thu, 21 Aug 2014 21:24:18 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1830099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It surprised me how hard it was to leave my babies, even for a night. I never understood parents who left for vacation and while on vacation said, "I miss my baby sooo much!!" because as a single person, I thought, "isn't it nice to get away once in awhile?!" - but after becoming a parent I 100% get it. </p> <p>It surprised me how little I understood my mom's sacrifices (and my ungratefulness/selfishness growing up) until I became one.</p> <p>It surprised me how much certain things (that have nothing to do with me - like things on the news or even movies that are fictional!) would affect me to the extreme because I'm seeing the world through a mom's eyes now. </p> <p>@Silva: Yes! There is so so much more at stake now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-surprised-you-about-parenthood#post-1830069 Thu, 21 Aug 2014 21:15:12 +0000 Bao 1830069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>All the things I said I would never do, and now I'm doing them.</p> <p>Ex: nursing to sleep, making more than one meal so LO will eat, baby wearing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-surprised-you-about-parenthood#post-1830068 Thu, 21 Aug 2014 21:14:53 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1830068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That I am my biggest critic and she's my biggest fan. </p> <p>In other words, cut yourself some slack and have fun. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-surprised-you-about-parenthood#post-1830064 Thu, 21 Aug 2014 21:13:51 +0000 Mae 1830064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: That's a good one! I did suddenly feel a lot more protective of my own health/life once LO was here because the idea of her ever being in this world without me to protect her just breaks my heart! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-surprised-you-about-parenthood#post-1830055 Thu, 21 Aug 2014 21:10:57 +0000 Silva 1830055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How much more I would think about death was the biggest one, for me, not because I was depressed, but just because...shit got real, you know? Circle of life and all that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-surprised-you-about-parenthood#post-1830047 Thu, 21 Aug 2014 21:09:05 +0000 Mae 1830047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm only 3 mo in, but so far: </p> <p>- Some babies sleep okay. At least sometimes. And also my sleep needs would change drastically. (I used to "need" 8-9 hrs of uninterrupted sleep or I was a zombie. Now if I get 6-7 with only 1 or 2 wake ups I feel great!). Lack of sleep has just not been an issue for me on an ongoing basis at this point (knock on wood). </p> <p>- Feeding can be really hard. I had no idea how much I could/would stress about what my LO was eating. </p> <p>- I'd totally be one of those idiots making the most ridiculous faces and sounds and baby-talking it up because it make my LO laugh and I will do anything to make her laugh. Don't curr. </p> <p>- If it makes her happy, it stays. I was all "Oh I'll never have baby shit all over my house." bahahaha no. Every room is covered with baby shit because its all stuff that make her happy and I'm way too lazy to take it out and put it away all the time. </p> <p>- mom hormones are actually awesome. I never understood how people could say that you can't be mad at a baby. But even when she's being really annoying, I might be frustrated at the situation but I'm never mad at HER and she looks at me and it's just impossible to be mad at her lol. </p> <p>You? </p>