According to my little one’s birth certificate, I officially became a dad in 2010. However, it took me a bit longer to truly embrace the role of an actual parent. In fact, I think it wasn’t until just last week that I realized it!
When we daydream about having kids, we often envision those monumental moments: picking a name, assembling a crib, the delivery process, diaper changes, playing catch, teaching them to ride a bike, and that big first day at school. While those milestones certainly matter, I discovered that the real essence of parenting lies in the countless small, everyday moments that accumulate over time. Each “first” is significant: the first burp, the first giggle, the first solid poop, and so on. But as you scroll through endless photos on social media, you start to see that these are not your milestones—they belong to your child.
The milestones marking your transition from being just a parent to a fully-fledged one are often subtler but equally important. Here are five signs that indicate you’ve officially entered the realm of parenthood!
1. Embracing the Mess
Early on, my partner and I took our newborn to a friend’s house for a New Year’s Eve celebration. Amidst the lively discussions about celebrity faces and unusual gadgets, it was my turn for diaper duty. As I navigated the process—one I had mastered countless times—an unfortunate incident occurred: human waste found its way onto my thumb. It was just a minor hiccup, and without a second thought, I cleaned up, grabbed a drink, and moved on. When you start to brush off the mess, you know you’re becoming a parent.
2. Panic Mode Activated
Babies often run fevers, and while it’s usually nothing to fret over, the first time your child spikes a temperature? Pure panic. You worry non-stop—about fevers, random cries, or the fact that they haven’t pooped in days. This overwhelming concern for your little one becomes a permanent part of you. That initial wave of panic? That’s parenting in a nutshell.
3. Proud Parent Bragging
Once you have a child, they quickly become the center of your universe. Even if you promised yourself not to be that parent who constantly boasted about their kid, it’s almost inevitable. You’ll find yourself sharing the most bizarre anecdotes, like “You won’t believe the size of the diaper explosion my kid had today!” When you see someone’s eyes glaze over as you share yet another adorable photo, you’ll know you’ve officially crossed into parent territory.
4. The Judgmental Eye
Yes, even I fell into this trap. Despite my blog often critiquing those “other parents,” I found myself casting judgment too. Each child and parent is unique, but somehow, it’s human nature to compare and feel superior. After a year or two, you might start thinking your limited experience gives you insights into the “right way” to do things. Once you start believing you have the answers? You’re on your way to becoming a parent (and when you realize you don’t? That’s when you start becoming a good one).
5. “Because I Said So!”
This was my defining moment. I had come to terms with the chaos, accepted panic as my new normal, and even bragged about my child’s milestones. But it wasn’t until I found myself echoing my own parents’ words—“Because I said so!”—that I knew I had truly stepped into the parental arena. This realization hit me when I told my son to clean up his LEGOs and he asked why. The moment those words slipped out, I understood: I was no longer just a guy with a kid; I had earned my parenting stripes.
Every child’s growth is marked by a series of “firsts,” but parenting evolves through accumulation. It wasn’t the first diaper change that made me a dad; it was the 50th. It wasn’t just surviving the first tantrum but enduring the 800th that solidified my role. Parenting feels less like acquiring skills and more like building a little prison for yourself—if you’re lucky, you’ll get parole when they head off to college!
Want to learn more about the journey of parenthood? Check out our post on fertility resources, or explore Couples’ fertility journeys for insights on home insemination. Don’t forget to visit our other blog post for extra engagement!
Summary
Stepping into parenthood is a unique journey marked by a blend of messy moments, parental panic, unexpected pride in your child’s achievements, the tendency to judge others, and the realization that you’ve adopted the classic parental phrase, “Because I said so!” It’s a gradual but significant transformation from just having a kid to embracing the full scope of parenting.