“You never stop worrying about your kids.”
Being aparentcan really change the way you look at things.
Here’s what they had to say:
1.
“When I was a kid, I ran around unattended all the time.
And my parents had no idea.
“I didn’t realize how relentless looking after a child was until I had my own.
She doesn’t understand, so she still wants attention and to play with me.”
kayleighs4e699037f
3.
“It’s so hard to be able to attend all of my kids' sports events!
All four of my kids play at least one sport.
My husband doesn’t get off work until six, and I don’t get off work until 5:30.
“My parents weren’t great, and (big surprise) parenting never seemed difficult for them.
“Beyond that, I live in a different state and my sister didn’t have children.
I grew up with a large extended family and spent weekends and holidays with grandparents and cousins.
Jen, Vermont
5.
I now understand why my parents always made us order water when we ate out.
“You never stop worrying about your kids.”
hannahd41c52c3ee
7.
No one told me that once your kids start brushing their teeth, there will be toothpaste EVERYWHERE.
Just globs of it on the counter and in the sink.
The lid won’t end up back on the toothpaste so you have crusty gloopy toothpaste on the tube.
It is DISGUSTING and a bitch to clean, too.
I NEVER as a kid remember having toothpaste all over my bathroom.
Maybe my kids are just feral.”
Dan G., Ohio
9.
“The language and tone I speak to my kids with.
My parents always used ‘baby talk’ with me and my brother.
Our kids can hold intelligent conversations with their peers and adults.
They also never went through the ‘don’t talk like a baby’ phase because of it.”
I was about 11 or 12 when the internet became more widely available for email and YouTube.
Katie, Washington
11.
“Mother of three daughters here.
Mine is the intense scrutiny, and suspicion because EVERYTHING must be ‘fair.’
Does she have a piece of cake?
I must have the same size piece.
No, I don’t believe you, hers is bigger.
She’s been hugging you for a minute and a half?
You better time our hug.
No, I’m SURE hers was longer.
And on and on until the end of time.”
bexc
13.
For example, my kids are at the age where they want and need expensive things.
My 17-year-old needs a car so he can drive himself to sports practices.
That’s another $20,000!
“As a kid, I didn’t realize how insanely emotional parenting is.
Kids are emotional too, but I think they’re blind to the emotions of parenting.
It makes me appreciate my parents in a different light.”
I was born in 1980.
No tech (other than the family PC) until my mid-late teen years and onward.
It’s a struggle, but luckily my girl is extremely intelligent and understands my caution.”
amymatthewsp
17.
“I genuinely feel like you have to be so much more watchful of your kids.
People are so much more brazen with grabbing kids these days!”
I looked after my brothers and myself while my mom did whatever.
We never really involved our parents in our kid lives.”
“I’m not a helicopter parent by any means, but I always know where my kids are.
I have two teenagers, so this is big for me.
I always jokingly say, ’80s parents were different,' but man it’s the truth.”
cgallaghernovember
19.
I will do anything to keep my daughter safe and healthy and verify she knows she’s loved.
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
