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Guest Article by Sarah Gentili

Parenthood

Two years ago my husband and I welcomed three very special children into our hearts and home. We had done everything we could to prepare ourselves for this event that would change everything about our daily lives. But the one thing that was never covered by the advise and classes we took was one simple life changing truth. Being a parent changes you. Parenthood changes a person in the most unexpected and startling ways. Two years after becoming parents, my husband and I have completely different priorities and ways of dealing with things.

I think this is where some people run into problems. Parents have a choice. Either embrace your new role in life or try to cling to the way things use to be. My husband and I have tried to dive into the brave new world of parenting, being ready to roll with the punches. I believe it has made us both stronger and allowed us to discover new aspects of ourselves. In my case I have become stronger. I use to be painfully shy in large groups and perfectly content to hang in the background. A mother cannot do her job and be a good parent if she is afraid to speak up in a crowd. In my husband’s case, he has actually mellowed. He has learned to laugh when life throws a curve ball. He loves being goofy and playing with the kids, and uses this family time to unwind from the daily grind of his work week.

Parenting will force you out of your comfort zone. With babies and young children, there is a huge amount of time involved. This time commitment makes it impossible to have the same life you had as a young, hip married couple. You can not be changing diapers and attending the ballet at the same time. Things are further complicated as you children enter the public schools. While many might think that the school is a sudo daycare place, in reality public school demands parent participation to be effective. Soon you will find yourself helping with homework and making late night runs to the story for project supplies.

Leaving your comfort zone is a good thing. It forces all of us to venture into unexplored territory and unearth hidden talents we never knew we had. This can be a wonderful thing. For example, I never thought of myself as much of a teacher. Working with my children as they navigated the public school system has made me realize I not only enjoy teaching them, I'm good at it. This is something I would have never known about myself if I had not become a parent.

My husband has discovered that he loves cooking. He never cooked growing up and we would grab takeout food as often as we cooked after we got married. But that was not practical with three more mouths to feed. Parenting has enabled him to develop his cooking skills and turned a hidden talent into a great skill.

Parenting will change you for the better. It gives each of us the chance to become stronger individuals. It’s impossible to know where the parenting road is going to take you. There are simply too many unknowns to plan for everything. But as you go down this road, be prepared to look for those gems and hidden talents. Whether it’s a new skill or coping mechanism, grab it and develop it. You’ll be amazed at what you discover about yourself.

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