From the moment you turned three, your days have been filled with the unending questions of “Why?” and “How?” Even when you don’t voice them, I can sense those curiosities hanging in the air as you navigate this big, puzzling world. When you see me wearing a frown or when I ask for a moment of peace, or when I repeat myself for the umpteenth time, I know you’re trying to grasp the reasons behind it all.
But here’s the deal: there are some things that will remain a mystery until you become a parent yourself. I can offer you simple explanations, but the full picture? Not until you’ve walked in these parenting shoes will you truly understand. One day, when you have kids of your own, all of this will click into place.
One Day, You’ll Understand
One day, you’ll understand why the day you were born was the highlight of my life.
One day, you’ll know how sleep deprivation can make you feel like you’re losing your grip on reality.
One day, you’ll understand why I shed tears when you took your first steps.
One day, you’ll grasp why I hugged you tightly, then shouted, then hugged you again when you wandered off at the zoo.
One day, you’ll understand why I frequently peek over your shoulder when you’re on your devices and why I insist you check with me before diving into YouTube.
One day, you’ll understand why I avoid the news like the plague.
One day, you’ll understand why I firmly remind you to stop when someone asks you to, even if they’re laughing.
One day, you’ll understand why I can’t endure another round of Candy Land. Seriously, I can’t.
One day, you’ll understand why I need those solo trips to Target.
One day, you’ll grasp why I’m not my usual cheerful self when you wake me up in the middle of the night or why I snooze through all those animated movies.
One day, you’ll understand why I get irritable when you make random noises in the car.
One day, you’ll understand how your bickering with your siblings tugs at my heartstrings and frays my nerves.
One day, you’ll understand why I insist on chores being done.
One day, you’ll know why I stopped cooking as much.
One day, you’ll understand the agonizing decision your dad and I faced when we debated letting you quit music lessons, why we were unsure about our choice, and why we celebrated when you chose to pick it up again.
One day, you’ll understand why sometimes your dad and I lock our bedroom door and take our sweet time answering your knocks.
One day, you’ll understand why we said “no” to that ridiculously short skirt.
One day, you’ll understand the weight of being responsible for another person, feeling utterly clueless about what to do.
One day, you’ll understand the exhilarating fear of being head over heels in love.
One day, you’ll comprehend the exhausting tug-of-war between holding on and letting go.
One day, you’ll realize how your heart can feel so full it seems ready to burst.
One day, you’ll understand how time can feel like it’s racing by one minute and dragging the next.
One day, you’ll grasp the chaotic emotions of trying to be a complete person while raising other whole beings.
One day, you’ll understand the love, worry, frustration, pride, confusion, astonishment, and joy that come with being a parent.
One day, you’ll get it all—but today is not that day.
So keep those questions coming, and I’ll do my best to answer them. Just know that most of them might elude your understanding until you’ve taken a few steps in the well-worn, yet cherished, shoes of parenthood. And if you’re curious about starting your own journey, check out this post on home insemination or get insights at Make A Mom. For more detailed information, Genetics and IVF Institute is an excellent resource.
In summary, parenting is a journey filled with unexplainable moments that will eventually make sense to you when you embark on this path yourself.