Life is full of surprises when you're a parent. We thought we'd prepare you for a few of them.
Your child will say "I love you"
You may encourage your little one to say those three little words on a number of occasions. However, the first time they say "I
love you" unprompted will take you by surprise and melt your heart.
Of course, your child will have shown their
bond with you in many ways before they are old enough to say the words. The tantrum when you reunite after a separation, feeding you their dinner and those sloppy head-butt kisses all tell you how special you are.
Your child will get too big for your lap
There will come a day when you can't comfortably sit with your child on your lap anymore while you read a
book together or watch a film. While you might feel sad when this time comes, you can still snuggle up in bed together on cold mornings and have big bear hugs.
Your child will want time alone
You may have become used to not being able to go to the bathroom without your little one waiting for you outside the door. So when you’re suddenly confronted by an unfamiliar silence, you'll probably rush to make sure everything's OK. What will you find? Your child
playing happily alone. They may even have gone into their own room and shut the door behind them. While this might be a bit of a wrench for you, try not to feel too upset. It's all part of them developing their
independence.
Your child will teach you a thing or two
While you find yourself struggling to remember where you put your keys and what you gave grandma for Christmas last year, your child and their sharp mind will remind you. As they start preschool and then school, they will also share with you what they're learning, which may well be things you've forgotten all about.
Your child will hurt your feelings
Unfortunately, there will be times when your child will say things they don’t really mean. So prepare yourself for the day when they say they hate you. They'll also tell you how "mean" you are, and when they're much older, how "embarrassing" you are. And then there are the daily honesties that can be hard to hear: "Mummy, your teeth are yellow!" or "Daddy, your breath smells bad!". It’s best to stay calm and explain to your child that saying such things isn’t nice and can hurt people's feelings.
Your child will show true bravery
Your child will be terrified of doing something, perhaps
sleeping in the dark for the first time, but one evening you'll see them push through the fear and make it through the night. Prepare to feel immense pride.
Your child will make you a better person
As you know your child is watching, you'll find yourself swearing less, being kinder to others and maybe even promoting a more positive body image. Enjoy setting a good example to your ever-surprising child.
Amalia Smith is an edit assistant for BabyCentre. She is responsible for creating and updating email newsletters, editing articles and liaising with the international team of editors.
