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According to research, an average woman can have as many as 30 children in a lifetime, which probably explains why there are about 4.5 births per second. The record is 69! And with all these newborns, having babies seems so popular, despite all the changes that the world is going through.
A question that new parents usually get is, “what do you enjoy about your child?” “What is the most enjoyable thing about being a parent?”
In this article, we’ll answer this question based on the opinions of real parents who are enjoying the blessings of parenthood, so keep on reading.
What Do You Enjoy About Your Child: 10 Amazing Reasons to Become a Parent
Contents
Today’s parents are more aware of the challenges that they’re facing when they decide to have a child. The world’s pace is so much faster, and technological advancement can be too scary for someone who is trying to teach their kid valuable morals. Moreover, today’s life is fast-paced, so parents usually feel that they lack the time that allows them to bond with their children and give them all the attention they need.
Nevertheless, having children is one of the world’s biggest blessings and will enrich your life with amazing experiences. Here are ten amazing things to enjoy about your child.
When They Tell You They Love You
A kid’s love is the purest and most honest type of love. When your child tells you that they love you, they actually mean it, and you can trust their words.
A child will tell you that they love you in different ways, and not just using words. He or she will hug you, pat your shoulder, or ask you about your day. They might also bring you their favourite stuffed toy to show you that they’re sharing their most valuable possessions with you.
A group of over thirty preschoolers and kindergarteners were asked what they thought of the word “love” in a study showcased in Psychology today. Their answers show how as they develop, children go from an externally focused conceptual line of thinking to one more internally based. For example, a three-year-old is more likely to state something concrete, such as “balloons” or “puppies” when they need to associate the word “love”, but as the brain begins to make more connections and the child experiences life, concepts start to be defined in terms of memories and attitudes.
When my son tells me he loves me, it is often completely out of the blue and genuine. He knows the word love is something nice and he knows he is saying something nice to me, he may not understand the definition like I do but he is using the word exactly as it should be and it can make my entire day.
Although it sounds heartwarming, a child that tells you that it loves you all the time can be suffering from low-self esteem and craving acceptance. In this case, you should tell your child that you love them too and explain that you accept them the way they are.
According to a study by the Washington University School of Medicine, affection is crucial for the development of the hippocampus, the brain structure that is important for learning, memory, and response to stress.
The study found that children who were treated with affection had better developed hippocampus areas compared to those who had not been treated with as much love, which can help to decrease the risk of problems like depression, stress, or forms of dementia such as Alzheimer’s. Additionally, the study found that affection can also help to regulate mood, manage conflict situations, decrease impulsivity and aggression and improve the regulation of body temperature, blood pressure, digestion, and sleep.
When They Laugh With You
I consider my children to be the funniest people on the planet, nothing makes me laugh more than they do. My youngest with her daft and cheeky behaviour and her expression when she thinks she’s done something naughty and my son who can talk, coming up with the most bonkers questions and answers. When they are being funny I make sure they know I found it funny and enjoy laughing. It is genuine joy.
Nothing beats the sound of a child laughing from the heart. Your child will laugh because you’re playing with them, taking care of them, and making them feel safe.
This is why parents appreciate this sound more than anything else. They know that they’re doing something right when their kids are happy. A child’s laugh is infectious and will brighten your day because you know that you’re taking good care of the person you love the most.
I also know it’s good for you and good for them.
Laughter is a powerful tool for parents to use in relieving stress and promoting positive physical and emotional well-being for both themselves and their children. According to Mayo Clinic, laughter can stimulate various organs, activate and relieve the stress response, and soothe tension in the body. Additionally, it can improve the immune system, relieve pain, increase personal satisfaction, improve mood, and even improve one’s sense of humor.
As a parent, you can encourage laughter by finding and sharing humor with your child, practicing laughter yoga together, and spending time with friends and family who make you both laugh. It’s important to note that laughter should never be at the expense of others and to use good judgement when it comes to what is appropriate to joke about. Overall, laughter is a great way for parents to bond with their child and improve overall well-being.
When They Surprise You With Their Innocence
As a new parent, I remember the moment I first looked into my son’s eyes and saw nothing but trustfulness, curiosity, and joy. It was a moment that made me realize the great responsibility I had to honor and protect his innocence and joy in life. It’s a responsibility that I believe all parents should take seriously.
As Naturalchild.org say, children are born innocent. They want only to be loved, to learn, and to contribute. Unfortunately, some parents miss this truth and instead suspect their child of being somehow flawed and in need of constant correction. The emphasis is on fixing something, not on enjoying and learning about this new person. This mindset can lead to a lifetime of struggle and a battle between parent and child.
On the other hand, a parent who can see the innocence and pure intentions in their newborn’s eyes will continue to trust and enjoy their child. Instead of looking for “misbehavior”, they will look for ways to connect and bring joy into their child’s life. This positive attitude leads to a lifetime of joyful connection and trust.
As parents, we should take the time to look closely at our new little ones and learn from them how delightful and simple life is meant to be. These early days may be challenging at times, but if we can grasp the truth of our child’s innocence, it will last forever. So, as parents, let’s take the time to appreciate and enjoy our child’s innocence while we can.
Children can do the most innocent acts because they take your words literally or don’t actually understand what’s being said. They don’t know how to mask their emotions or use double meanings, so they’ll just say what’s on their minds.
Any interaction that you have with your child will probably end in several laughs because your little one said or did something hilarious. Although children can sometimes embarrass you, in most cases, strangers don’t mind their innocence. Life will never be dull when you have children.
When They Reach New Milestones
Having a child is all about discovering the blessings of life. It’s a good chance to remember your own childhood and see if they’re acting like you.
I remember thinking at first that the milestones stop, but if you look for them you can see milestones for their entire lives – pronouncing a word, reading a new word, starting high school all the way to getting a promotion in their jobs as adults. Embrace their milestones and soak in every minute of their wonderful lives forever.
Making everything they achieve a big deal is something I really enjoy about my child.
All the new milestones like walking for the first time or murmuring the first word are moments to remember. You can actually feel a sense of accomplishment when you see that your child is succeeding at something that they haven’t done before.
The list doesn’t stop there because you get to experience more of these precious moments as your little one gets older. You’ll be able to see your child acting in a school play, doing a dance routine, receiving an award, or giving a speech. Parents feel proud of their children, whether they’re one or sixty years old, when they’re reaching a new milestone in their lives.
When You Listen to Their Stories
Kids have a magnificent imagination, so they’ll play with toys and make up stories about them. Reading to your child and allowing it to explore different arts will enrich their imagination. These activities also boost brain and social development.
Dandeliophone suggest that children are naturally more creative than adults because they have less constraints on reality, a consistent belief that any problem can be solved, less social pressures, high vulnerability and low fear of rejection, surrounded by creative tools and toys, and minimal time pressures. They have the ability to think of things that are not bound by societal norms and rules and they can freely express themselves without fear of rejection or stigma. They are also surrounded by creative tools and toys that spark their imagination, and they have more time to imagine and dream. As parents, we should encourage and nurture our child’s creativity and imagination as it plays a crucial role in their development.
They won’t have this kind of imagination forever, that’s why I’m embracing it with both ears.
When your child’s imagination goes wild, it’s OK to let them make up stories, but it’s also essential to help them understand the difference between imagination and reality. You can reassure them that monsters don’t exist to help them sleep better and explain that not everything we read in stories is true.
In some cases, a child with an overactive imagination might be suffering from anxiety, so he or she might be trying to escape reality. If this is the case, then you need to take your little one to the doctor to run some tests and identify the root of the problem.
When They’re Determined
Having a determined child shows you that your little one isn’t a quitter and will work towards any goals that they’ve set for themselves.
This can start when your baby is only a few months old when you can see it trying to get itself to stand on its own, or sit up from lying down without any help. If your child always demands to know the reason behind your actions, explain things briefly. A determined child isn’t a bad one.
When You Have Someone to Look After
Becoming a parent creates a new purpose in your life. You’re no longer living to fulfil your own needs, but there’s another human being that’s dependent on you, and your actions will affect them.
This is why a lot of people start paying more attention to their finances and health once they become parents. This milestone creates a sense of responsibility that’s associated with the desire to create the best life and atmosphere for your child.
Knowing that you have someone that you need to look after will prompt you to make better decisions in life. You’ll have a motive that pushes you to become the best version of yourself.
When They Help Heal Your Childhood’s Trauma
Just because you’ve had a bad childhood doesn’t mean that you can’t be a good parent. You can actually treat your child the way you wish you’d been treated to heal your childhood traumas.
As a parenting blogger, I want to share my personal experience with fatherhood and the realisation that using children to heal past wounds is not healthy for either the parent or the child. While it’s natural for parents to want to give their children everything they were deprived of in their own childhood, it’s important to acknowledge and address any selfish motivations in the decision to have children. It’s important to focus on healing ourselves for the sake of our children and not placing the responsibility of healing on them.
This can be a difficult and ongoing process, but making our mental health a priority is not selfish and ultimately benefits our children. We should strive to be the best version of ourselves and break any cycles of unhealthy parenting.
I enjoy that my child is helping me become a better person who isn’t living bitterly in the past.
Our parents weren’t as informed the way we are today, and they might have made mistakes while raising us up. However, this doesn’t mean that we have to repeat these mistakes.
Having a baby can be your chance to explore yourself and understand more about the things that affected you as a child. You can always be the parent that you wished you could have and create new memories with your little one.
When They Bring The Whole Family Together
Perhaps this is the most challenging yet the most enjoyable part of having children. Whether you’re living alone or with a partner, after having a child, your life will change.
Things will be planned and done after considering what’s best for the family. You might consider accepting a new job or changing something about your daily routine to enjoy your family time. Spending time working on a project, reading a story, or watching a movie will be an experience that both and your child will cherish.
When They Teach You New Things About Yourself
Becoming a parent is a chance to discover yourself as an adult. You might notice that you enjoy new things or that you can do a lot of things that you didn’t think were possible. Perhaps you breastfed for the first time ever.
As a parent, I have come to realize that my child teaches me more than I could ever teach them. Raising my child has been a revolutionary experience and every day, I strive to be a better version of myself in order to set a good example. Through respecting my child’s autonomy, understanding their learning process and needs, I have grown my consciousness by leaps and bounds.
“This has also helped me to respect people in general and has taught me the value of family, love, respect, communication and spending time with loved ones” – Laura Fox on Medium. Being a parent has also made me realize that happiness can be found in simple things such as sharing within a family and helping others. Being able to be with my child and watching them grow has transformed me as a person and fills me with love and a new perspective on life.
It’s your chance to start a new life and be more responsible. You know that your child’s life and future depend on your actions and thoughts, so you’ll be more careful.
Wrap Up
In conclusion, the joys of parenthood are many and varied. From the pure and honest love children express, to the laughter and bonding shared between parent and child. The benefits of affection and love in a child’s development have been scientifically proven to have positive effects on their brain development, mood regulation and overall well-being.
While the world may be fast-paced and technology advancing, the love and joy that a child brings into a parent’s life is invaluable and worth every single challenge that may arise. As a parent, it is important to remember that our children are not a means to heal our own past traumas, but rather, our responsibility is to heal ourselves for the sake of our children and to provide them with the best possible life.