Week 1+ of Parenting

[sylvantechie]

Our son was born 10 days ago, and it's been quite the life conversion. Of course, that comes as no surprise. One thing all parents agree is that having a child radically changes one's life. What I find so interesting is the ways it does so. Lack of sleep is certainly a part of it, but though dramatic it's not the real shift. Responsibility is

Comments

[kassrachel]

I love reading your reflections on this adventure so far. Thank you for posting them!

Doing customer service and contract work was good preparation for parenting. Babies have all kinds of needs they don't know about, and all kinds of demands they can't articulate. Some problems need solving, some merely placating, and some will solve themselves if ignored for a little while.

I had not thought about this in this light, but you are totally right, and now I am amused.

I've never been a real baby person before (though I really like kids once they get to a more interactive stage). I've appreciated and admired them from afar, but never been one that wants to hold the child of whomever we're visiting. That's definitely changed for our own kid - I get a real kick out of holding him and playing with him.Yes! I know this feeling! I remember being very relieved when my sister once told me that she'd never been all that "into" other people's kids but found her own endlessly interesting -- that reassured me and allowed me to think that I might

[kcobweb]

I've also found that having been through my own son's infancy, I am now far more interested in other people's experiences with babies and infancy, and far more excited to hold a newborn than I used to be.

Yes, this - very much so.

[sylvantechie]

Sorry I missed you guys as well, but not so sorry I'd give up the nap :) Thanks so much for the lasagna, not to mention the quiches and chocolate banana bread of earlier visits. My mom really wants the recipe for the onion quiche - "It's the best quiche I've ever had!"

One thing I forgot to mention above is that parenting is a great reminder of the overwhelmingly wonderful group of friends we have. Thank you all!

[kouredios]

I *love* that you've not only thought so analytically about the process you're going through (of course you have!) but that you're sharing it with us. Everything you've said here is so true, but I've never seen it all articulated like this. It's fascinating.

I'm also so very happy that you're happy. It's so very clear how happy you are. ♥

Logical, analytical approach to parenting - what else would we expect?

[smudgiebudgie]

Given how much is going on, I appreciate that you wrote such a well organized, self-aware, and interesting post.

Not being a parent myself yet, I'd just like to thank you for giving me a heads up of what to expect. Also....good luck! And I'm glad that you like holding and playing with your baby. That's important. I'm also relying on that "my baby is different" factor, in terms of not ruling out having kids one day. It's extremely reassuring to hear someone like you, who isn't a self-proclaimed "baby person," affirming that you really do develop affection for your own child.