There are so many impressive skills and talents that parents pick up over the course of their time raising children, that it’s amazing how little is spoken of it. You can think of these talents like a sixth-sense. For instance, a mother who has had three children so far will probably have a good idea of what a baby’s cries indicate – be that they need burping, they’re tired, or they’re too cold.
Of course, we might sound as if we’re explaining the presence of a hidden and mystical art that parents only learn at the top of a secretive mountaintop after ten years of parenthood, but the truth is more simple than that – parental life is a heavy responsibility, and it shapes people, often for the better.
This is why the idea of a parent returning to work after being a stay-at-home caretaker should be lauded, not questioned by prospective employers. A mother that has spent nearly twenty years as a stay-at-home parent can give a wonderful contribution to an organization, just as they did for their household.
Let’s enjoy a fun article today, then, and discuss some of those hidden parental skills no one trains you in:
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Child Safety Becomes Second Nature
When you become a parent, you become an expert in watching out for dangers and issues that could affect your child. You’ll worry about the stability of a restaurant’s high-chair for your toddler, you’ll learn how to ease your baby out of a bassinet using the right carrying method, and you’ll be careful about what products you use in your household, like switching from toxic to non-toxic cleaners.
This isn’t to say you can lapse in your vigilance and simply let your natural reactions take hold, but for the most part, there’s a great deal of skill and care that goes into being the ultimate safety provider for your child, and so don’t feel ashamed of it, it’s an amazing skill to employ even if you might feel a little strict about it.
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You Become Adept At Napping
Parenthood goes hand in hand with a lack of sleep, at least for the first few years. Like those enlisted in the military, you’ll become adept at falling asleep within a matter of moments after laying down, enjoying a healthy napping schedule alongside your child in the day, or developing a consistent bedtime that works best for you.
You’ll become much more adept at napping and sleeping well if you also focus on your sleep hygiene, such as investing in your bedspread to really relax in. It’s not uncommon for parents to divide their sleeping arrangements for a little while when caring for a little one, not because they’ve fallen out of love, but because it’s easier for you to take turns with your partner to get up and attend to your crying child in the middle of the night. If you can do so without alerting the other so they can retain their sleep, then you’ll have the most comfortable approach in front of you.
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Relationships Reduce In Number, But Deepen In Quality
Parenthood is a big responsibility, and big responsibilities take up your time. This is why it’s good to note that if you do experience fewer friendships over time, it’s not worth grieving them because those who stick around will no doubt become much closer to you.
Moreover, there’s no shame in just having friends that are relatives, neighbors, or another parent at your local playgroup or school. If you can rely on one another, if you’re in proximity, and if you both make allowances for the daily responsibilities each has to attend to, then yes, your smaller group of friends becomes that much more profound.
Put simply – you become adept at seeing relationships of worth, rather than of obligation, as you move through your life as a parent.
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You Have Less Time For Inconsequential Happenings
When you have less time, only important things matter. This is a skill most people could benefit from, but parents simply have to adopt. You’ll notice that the constant vitriol of the news cycle, the gossip of celebrity divorces, the latest scandal and the interpersonal drama of those at the office become much less interesting when you’re a parent, because none of it really matters, and the things that do matter, you’ll still be aware of.
Parenthood has a great impact on focusing your attention, and as we’re concerned, that’s always a net positive.
With this insight, we hope you can see that yes, parenthood is a lot of work, but there are many hidden benefits to enjoy as well.