More accepting, more generous, more helpful: Ive heard a lot of parents say that having kids has made them more of something like this.
To some degree, becoming a mom has had these sorts of effects on meI thinkbut its also changed me in other ways that I appreciate even more. For instance, since becoming a parent
I do things that terrify me. Every damn day. Yes, its scary to let your kids spread their wings and explore independently. To venture out beyond your watch. To witness them participating in activities that involve speeding along on something other than their own two feet, potentially putting themselves into the paths of others who might crash into them. And hurt thembadly.
But just as terrifying for me (a generally terrified person) is participating with my boys in such unsafe activitieslike snowboarding or riding bikes on the street (!!)so we can all have fun as a family. Again and again, I drag myself out of my comfort cocoon to surround myself with supportive, fearless friends who push me to be the bravest parent I can be.
I force myself to do things that I suck at. This includes snowboarding (see above, but Im getting better)and anything involving balls. I play soccer and pitch baseballspoorly. One kid calls me out on my ineptitude, which offers a teaching opportunity on good sportsmanship; the other applauds my efforts and suggests I become an assistant coach of his T-ball team. I can tell they both appreciate my just getting out there and trying (and suspect they will even more in 20 years). Ive also learned that sports with your kids can be almost as fun as dancing if you dont take yourself too seriously.
Im more likely to make the most of every minute. It started when I brought my older son home from the hospital. When he was sleeping, I was making dinner or folding clothes because I had no idea when Id see my next free minute. These days, Im less likely to procrastinate, say, an exercise session because if I dont seize the moment, I may not get another chance.
I get creative about squeezing in things I want to do: Ill run to the ball field and my husband will drive the kids; after the game, he runs home, and I drive back. If I dont have a noontime meeting on a yoga day, Ill go to the class knowing Ill rally myself to work after the boys are in bed because: deadlines. This week when I suddenly found myself meeting-free one afternoon of a Chicago work trip, I snuck over to the art museum and saved my editing for late night. I got it all done and discovered a cool, new (to me) contemporary artist to follow (Frances Stark! - check her out).
Im (imperfectly) more productive. As my kids have gotten older and I see them losing their sh*t when they mess up a drawing or a note, Ive realized that I need to make a conscious effort to temper my tendencies to do things perfectly.
Learning not to overproduce is, in my experience, an important life lesson. Dont start over; that mess-up looks cool, I often tell my kids. Repeating that mantra, Ive begun to absorb the mentality myself. More than ever, I dont let perfect get in the way of done. We live in an increasingly iterative world. Do your best and let it go. Thats what Im sayinnow. Or at least more often.
How have your kids changed you for the better?
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More accepting, more generous, more helpful: Ive heard a lot of parents say that having kids has made them more of something like this.
To some degree, becoming a mom has had these sorts of effects on meI thinkbut its also changed me in other ways that I appreciate even more. For instance, since becoming a parent
I do things that terrify me. Every damn day. Yes, its scary to let your kids spread their wings and explore independently. To venture out beyond your watch. To witness them participating in activities that involve speeding along on something other than their own two feet, potentially putting themselves into the paths of others who might crash into them. And hurt thembadly.
But just as terrifying for me (a generally terrified person) is participating with my boys in such unsafe activitieslike snowboarding or riding bikes on the street (!!)so we can all have fun as a family. Again and again, I drag myself out of my comfort cocoon to surround myself with supportive, fearless friends who push me to be the bravest parent I can be.
I force myself to do things that I suck at. This includes snowboarding (see above, but Im getting better)and anything involving balls. I play soccer and pitch baseballspoorly. One kid calls me out on my ineptitude, which offers a teaching opportunity on good sportsmanship; the other applauds my efforts and suggests I become an assistant coach of his T-ball team. I can tell they both appreciate my just getting out there and trying (and suspect they will even more in 20 years). Ive also learned that sports with your kids can be almost as fun as dancing if you dont take yourself too seriously.
Im more likely to make the most of every minute. It started when I brought my older son home from the hospital. When he was sleeping, I was making dinner or folding clothes because I had no idea when Id see my next free minute. These days, Im less likely to procrastinate, say, an exercise session because if I dont seize the moment, I may not get another chance.
I get creative about squeezing in things I want to do: Ill run to the ball field and my husband will drive the kids; after the game, he runs home, and I drive back. If I dont have a noontime meeting on a yoga day, Ill go to the class knowing Ill rally myself to work after the boys are in bed because: deadlines. This week when I suddenly found myself meeting-free one afternoon of a Chicago work trip, I snuck over to the art museum and saved my editing for late night. I got it all done and discovered a cool, new (to me) contemporary artist to follow (Frances Stark! - check her out).
Im (imperfectly) more productive. As my kids have gotten older and I see them losing their sh*t when they mess up a drawing or a note, Ive realized that I need to make a conscious effort to temper my tendencies to do things perfectly.
Learning not to overproduce is, in my experience, an important life lesson. Dont start over; that mess-up looks cool, I often tell my kids. Repeating that mantra, Ive begun to absorb the mentality myself. More than ever, I dont let perfect get in the way of done. We live in an increasingly iterative world. Do your best and let it go. Thats what Im sayinnow. Or at least more often.
How have your kids changed you for the better?
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