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Before you had children, you may have developed possible expectations in your mind in regards to how your future children would act or behave. Once the day came and you become a parent, you quickly realized how unrealistic your expectations may have been. Being a parent, and a good one at that, is not easy and we may find that sometimes we get the urge to pull our hair out over things we didn’t think would happen to us. Chances are this list of 8 things you wish someone had told you before you had kids has your name written all over it:
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1. Your Kids Will Have No Idea What the Term “Go To Bed” Actually Means
It seems when you have kids, getting them to go to bed can prove a challenging task to say the least. Some kids are notorious for fighting their sleep even when they are tired, and others almost have a reluctancy to fall asleep for fear of missing out on the action (FOMO). Then there are those kids that have a ridiculously hard time getting on a routine sleeping schedule, choosing to sleep at random despite your exhausted efforts in attempting to sleep train them. And don’t worry, you wouldn’t be the first parent in the world finding yourself very loudly reciting the words “go to bed” almost in a yell.
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2. Sometimes Kids Really Do Say the Darndest Things
As any parent can admit, there are times when their children have shocked them with some of the crazy things that they’ve said. Whether it’s a fib, or an embarrassing recollection of a moment in which you did not want made public knowledge, your child will sometimes blurt out things that will leave you scratching your head. Note to self: never say something about someone to your children unless you want them to know. Because your children will take great pride in sharing this information, often directly to their face.
3. Kids Get Sick Regardless of What You Do To Prevent it From Happening
Even if you are one of those Moms that basically dips their kids in hand sanitizer, your kid is going to get sick regardless of what you do to prevent it. And when they do happen to get the tiniest onset of a runny nose, your mother-in-law will sense it from across town and ask you about it repeatedly until it goes away. Chalk it up to allergies and call it a day. You’ll save yourself a lot of trouble when you realize that kids are going to get sick sometimes, but the magic part is that they usually bounce back quickly.
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4. Your Kids Are Going To Curse on Occasion–Even If You Don’t
This one can be rather embarrassing, but sometimes it’s actually a bit funny–especially when they use the bad word in the right context. Plus, you might find yourself pinning the blame on your spouse when your child says inappropriate things. That is, until they coincidentally remind you that you’re actually the one who says that word on occasion. Oops. No one is perfect, but obviously limiting the language on the parent end will go a long way.
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5. At Times, Your Kids are Going to Spar Like Gladiators in Battle
It’s not all the time that your children will go skipping off merrily down the street. Siblings are bound to disagree, sometimes pull hair, and at the worst times get caught up in the middle of their little heated emotions. While these are obviously not proud parent moments, it happens. Don’t be too hard on yourself when the little one has had enough and slings a punch at big brother/sister when they tire of their bossiness.
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6. Sometimes Your Kids Will Freak Out Over Nothing
Kids are sensitive, and at times things can trigger their emotions in a heartbeat. And of course these moments happen when you are shopping at Target and you kindly tell them that they can’t have that toy that they don’t need. Not only will they scream and cry, but they will do so to the point of borderline asphyxiation. Try not to feel too embarrassed when your kid screams bloody murder over a $5 toy they probably already own 2 of at home, and whatever you do, don’t give in.
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7. Using Their Shirt Sleeve as a Kleenex Will Happen
Whatever it is with kids doing this, it sometimes seems like there are hidden magnets in their arm drawing draining snot to their shirt sleeve. Then there are the times when your kid will dig for gold in search of a winner. But the best of all has to be when your child does this when meeting someone for the first time and you go to introduce them, only to look down and find your child with their index finger crammed up their nostril. Just try and be proactive about keeping some Kleenex on hand for these moments.
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8. Your Kids Will Act Like the World Is Going to End Whenever You’re on the Phone–Or in the Restroom
It’s almost as if children have this tiny sensor in their mind that dings when they know that Mommy is trying to do something for herself. If you are trying to have a phone conversation and your children catches wind of this, they will fight, yell, beg or whatever it is they have to do to gain your attention and undoubtedly get you to hang up that phone. And going to the restroom in peace? You can forget about that. Kids are worse then pets that sniff and paw at the door just waiting for you to come out. You can have your peace again once they move out. Sorry.