By Jeana Lee Tahnk
It's hard to say when one becomes an official parent: Is it when you
find out you're pregnant? When the baby is in your arms for the first
time? You're officially given the heralded title of "parent" when that
baby is handed to you in the delivery room, but for me, parenting is a
never-ending journey. The experiences of "real" parenting happen over
the course of days, weeks, months, even years.
Parenting is filled with so many joys - too many to count - but there
are challenges along the way as well. Especially the first time around,
when everything is a question mark. Let's face it: No new parent really knows what she's doing at the beginning. I know I didn't.
While the hugs and cuddles are a built-in bonus for parenting, the real
part comes into play for the not-so-rosy times - when you're up all
night with a sick baby, for instance - and the constant worrying you'll
always do when it comes to your kids.
Being there for those milestones and all those firsts is amazing, but
parenting happens not only for those firsts, but also for the seconds,
thirds and many more thousands of experiences you have as a present and
dedicated parent.
Nine years in and three kids later, I think it's safe to say I've
achieved "real parent" status. But at the same time, I have many more
milestones ahead of me in uncharted territory, such as parenting
teenagers, having new drivers in the house (eeek!), graduations,
marriages and so many other wonderful life events.
Becoming a parent is the easy part. It's raising a happy and healthy
child and being there day in and day out that's the real journey.