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'I'm expecting sleepless nights, a lot of crying and poopy diapers, but I'm also expecting an overwhelming love for my child and a lot of heart-warming moments. I definitely don't expect it to be a cake walk but I just don't think it's going to be that bad.'

I think you summed it up pretty well! I was tired but omg I was/am soooo in love with my little girl! I felt like the moment she was born, so was I. I'd been waiting for her my whole life and never realised it, I was happy and fulfilled in a way I'd never been before. Definitely tired, and there have been challenges with breastfeeding/sleep and other health issues but I've honestly never been so happy in my life. Parenting is fab!

Did it change? HECK YA! Was it hard? HECK YA! Is it amazing? HECK YA!

Sure it is going to be hard and scary and life changing, but it is so terribly worth it. Anyone who says that to you "you'll wish he was still in there" is a jerk and should be punched. And, as a pregnant lady, you are completely allowed such behaviors.

What people don't say is "wait until he smiles at you for the first time" or "wait until you hear the tiny little squeak he makes while he is fast asleep on your chest" or "just you wait until he says 'mama' for the first time, then you'll see!"

Motherhood is a crazy CRAZY thing, but it is amazing. My oldest just turned three and she still amazes me while I watch her grow up.

It is an amazingly, crazy, hard, exciting, lovely, wonderful, life changing thing.

And, seriously, punch those people in the face. They are probably the same people who think it is ok to say "you sure there aren't twins in there?"

It's the hardest thing that you will ever do and it will affect every aspect of your life, down to what blouse you wear to work and if you go out with the girls for brunch. But, it's the most rewarding, fulfilling thing ever. My LO is 3 1/2 months and when she gives me that big, goofy, open-mouthed grin, it's all worth it. Even if she's fussed for her paci every 5 minutes the last 2 hours...

My LO is 5 months old. It feels like our life revolves around 3 hour increments, like we'll wait to go grocery shopping so she doesn't get hungry during it. We're less flexible. She goes to bed at 5 pm now, so I really can't leave the house after that. Sometimes I do miss pregnancy because at least I could out to eat, to plays, and to movies. We don't have any family near by though, so it might be easier if we did. I love my little girl, but sometimes I miss my old life too. Take time to go out and do things while you're pregnant since you might miss it once she's here!

If I get pregnant again, and anyone says anything like that to me, I'd punch them...or at least make them feel awkward for saying those things.

It's really hard to be a parent...but it's really rewarding. As they grow older, you see all the fruit of your hard work and it's amazing.

@sera_87: I do agree with this, and that was an adjustment for me...there will never be a day when I won't be a parent/won't have to think about LO, and that can be mentally exhausting sometimes.

I typed up a different response but what I really want to say is that YES what they're saying is true. Parenthood is hard and hard to understand til you're there. But also... YES, what you're saying true too! There are ups and downs, moments of pure elation when LO will smile and giggle and moments of complete chaos where you might want to throw in the towel. There's feeding, sleeping, diapering, playing, and much more and from the very beginning and sometimes there are issues with those things (just like there will be other issues in toddlerhood and the teen years.) The point is that the transition to parenthood is a journey not a single moment or emotion, and it's going to be unique to you and your baby! It is going to be beautiful, although it may (or may not!) take a few months to get a grasp on things and see the beauty. It's normal to be nervous, but I think you'll find it's amazing and so worthwhile! Enjoy your time and don't be afraid!

The first week or two was bad. Recovering from childbirth on no sleep is very challenging. My confidence level was low because I had absolutely no idea what I was doing and didn't know what her cries meant. Breastfeeding was a nightmare at first. Post partum hormones made me feel so groggy and out of it.

But after that, things have been wonderful. I healed physically, my LO grew healthily and that gave me a ton of confidence. I feel more valuable than ever knowing that I can meet LOs needs. And now that she babbled and giggles and develops new skills right in front of my eyes, I can't call any of that bad. My love for her is above and beyond. I absolutely enjoy my life and my time with her. It isn't bad at all.

The biggest change has been doing things around her schedule. We really can't do much at all right now on the weekends with nap times at 9 and 2, meals at 8, 12 and 5:30, bedtime by 7.

We don't mess with her schedule because we think a structured schedule is a good thing for her. Makes life frustrating sometimes if there are things we want to do but, we just deal.

We didn't go out that much on the evenings before. Now if we do, we go out separately.

Ugh this it totally one of my peeves. Every time I mention something at work a coworker gives the other parents in the room a knowing smile and makes some comment.

Ie: "DH and I saw James Bond last night" - "Ha! Enjoy date nights now while you can!!"

"Dh and I are heading to Maine for the long weekend" "Get ready to say goodbye to trips for the rest of your life!!"

"I bought my dog the cutest little toy" "You won't even know your dog's name soon!!'

Then I respond by saying something like "Well DH and I are really lucky we have my parents and sisters who are dying to babysit so hopefully we can get away for date nights now and then." Then they laugh at me and reply something along the lines of "You say that now, keep dreaming!"

They make parenting sound so fun.

I KNOW it's going to be tough. I KNOW I will have no sleep. I KNOW Dh and I will spend less time together. But please also tell me the good things!

Sorry for the rant.

I'm glad you posted this question, because I've had someone say a similar thing to me. Basically my friend was telling me how her husband asked their friends if having kids was 'worth it,' and they said no! And it's been bugging me ever since that maybe I have this rosy view of having a kid that isn't correct, ya know? But reading the responses is great, and I do think it will be hard but totally worth it.

I echo most of what has already been written - although parenthood can be exhausting, it's also exhilarating! My DD is just shy of 3 months and do I feel like I've lived in a fog for most of the past few weeks? Absolutely! But does watching her smile and learn new skills everyday, hearing her coo, and feeling her snuggled up against my chest make it all worth it? Absolutely! And I can't wait for what the next few weeks/months/years will bring either!

I did want to say that while I do think having a baby who is a good sleeper helps and I'm lucky to have a DD who I consider to be a decent sleeper, I think how well YOU sleep matters a lot too. Meaning, if you're someone who can fall asleep easily after being woken up and also someone who naps pretty well, that helps tons too. Those are characteristics I have so the sleep deprivation didn't hit me as hard, but my DH does not wake well nor nap well and man did he suffer. Lucky for him, he doesn't have to breastfeed!

I wanted to chime in as the mom of a 2.5 year old... it's exhausting but so amazing & completely worth every second. My daughter is starting to put together sentences and interact with the world in a way that is so *magical*. And honestly - date nights and vacations are what you make them. We went on a beach vacation when LO was 10 months old, because it was important to us. We don't have tons of real date nights, but we make it a point to sit down together and talk/watch tv every night. Really, it's about finding what your new normal is. And it's wonderful.

My life is totally and completely different than it was before. It's better!

Thank you for posting this!! I get the same comments. As my mom said, 'if it was so awful, nobody would ever have a second kid'.

Someone I know recently asked her own mother what having kids was like, and she responded, "It was like playing the piano with one hand my whole life, and then finally putting my other hand on the keys."

That pretty much sums it up for me! People like to be complainy but for us, one (fortunately easygoing) baby has brought nothing but joy to our lives. Yes, we don't go out to eat or see friends quite as much, but we still do those things, we just have to be more mindful/organized about it. There was some fogginess and sleep deprivation in the beginning (first 6 weeks maybe?) but it's totally doable!

Your life will change and some days it will be for the worse no lie but the overall experience of becoming a parent is one that is rewarding of life's offerings. It does become harder and tiring and sometimes you do want to cry but the joy of watching a child grow change and discover this world is absolutely worth all the hardships.

@Bookworm: why would they say it wasn't worth it? I think that's a really horrible thing to say! I totally think my son is worth all the stress he gives me, lol

I actually think our lives didn't change that much! Maybe it helps that our LO is very good and pretty easygoing, but we have tried to incorporate him into our lives as much as we can. He's only 5.5 months old, so I think things may change more and become more difficult as he gets older, but so far we've managed to take him out a lot (to restaurants - albeit earlier than we normally would eat - and on vacation to a couple places, including one international trip), managed to get together with friends a lot, and have been able to have time to ourselves once he goes to bed. What has been more difficult is going out just the two of us (so far we only have done that the few times my parents have been in town, but that will change once our nanny starts next week and we get her to babysit from time to time). And I echo what most posters have said, that everything we do is better and more fun because of him!