50 reasons why it's fun to be a parent

Written for BabyCenter India

When your baby is crying at three in the morning or your toddler's just thrown his lunch all

over your newly mopped floor, it's easy to forget the good bits about being a parent. To

help you through the tough times, here's our round up of the things that make parenting

fun. You can add your ideas, too, by scrolling down to the parents' tips box at the bottom ofthe page.

1 Panicking because you've been given this newborn baby to take home and you haven't even

got the manual - then realising how much fun it is learning on the job.

2 Feeling a tiny fist curl around your finger when you touch his palm.

3 Gazing into your baby's eyes and knowing he trusts you totally.

4 Breathing in the best smell in the world: sleepy baby!

5 Being amazed the first time you wrap him up in his sheet, put him against your shoulder,

pat him gently and incredibly the yelling stops!

6 Being the most tired you've ever been in your whole life - and the most happy.

7 Sitting up in bed feeding your baby in the middle of the night, and knowing that all over

the world other mothers are doing just the same.

8 Watching your husband show his son or daughter off to all the visitors.

9 Hearing relatives and friends exclaim, at your baby's Naamkaran ceremony, how your

baby's nose looks just like his father's, but his eyes and smile are like miniatures he's

inherited from you.

10 Overhearing your husband at a party talking earnestly about the best paediatrician intown.

11 Watching your baby's sleeping face and wondering what the future holds for him.

12 Discovering how lovely the dawn chorus can be!

13 Taking him out for the first time and discovering that everyone wants to stop and talk.

14 Experiencing that amazing feeling of tenderness when your baby falls asleep in your

arms.

15 Buying that Leggo set/Batman costume/Hot wheels cars you always wanted (even though

 your baby is only one week old).

 

16 Discovering how infectious a baby's giggles can be.

17 Having someone to leave the family heirlooms to, even things like love letters that baby'sfather once wrote to you and your grandmother's treasured silver spoon.

18 Exchanging a smile with other pram-pushing mothers.

19 Dreaming up fantastic food combinations for your baby: chikoo and banana, chopped apple

and grapes, suji halwa and raisins, or paneer and strawberry.

20 Laughing when your baby starts waving at everyone from the car or in the supermarket.

21 Discovering all the little characteristics that make your baby unique: fat toes, sticky-outears, hair that sticks up no matter how much it's brushed.

22 Taking millions of photographs, which you keep meaning to put into an album, but never

quite get round to it.

23 Developing a new family language as your toddler touches your cold coffee and touches

his cheek and says “ssssss” or asks for a bikkit.

24 Finding Action Man weapons scattered on the floor and mini tanks lined outside your

child's bedroom door.

25 Knowing the right things to say and the best way to help when your friends have a baby.

26 Watching grandparents spoil their little treasure rotten.

27 Joining in tactile toddler pleasures like squeezing playdough in your hands, catching

bubbles right after you blow them or jumping in puddles.

28 Discovering that he's inherited your love of music or his dad's interest in racing cars.

29 Or, even better, discovering he has totally different talents, like dancing or painting -

where did that come from?

30 Waking up to a sloppy kiss from your toddler.

31 Rediscovering the simple pleasures in life: brightly coloured flowers, the softness of a

cat's fur or the feel of sand between your toes, with your little one.

32 Getting used to being known as Rahul's mum or dad.

33 Crying when you see a baby born on TV, understanding how mothers feel everywhere

from Beijing to Belfast.

 

34 Discovering the pleasures of three in a bed - even if you and your husband only have a

few inches of space while your baby lies sideways across middle.

35 Enjoying the chance to be really silly again - walking around quacking like a duck or sittingat the table wearing a bib and flying an imaginary plane to encourage your baby to eat.

36 Trying to answer those awkward questions: Do fish sleep? Why is the sky blue? Why dad

has a moustache and you don't?

37 Relishing the moment when he first says, "I love you, Mummy".

38 Re-discovering how brilliant children's books are, even if you do sometimes have to "lose"the one he's wanted every night for the last three weeks!

39 Having one big bubble bath together - and squabbling over who gets the end with the

taps.

40 Running up a quick Krishna costume with your favourite dupatta for a fancy dress party.

41 Multi-tasking: learning how to mix up a bowl of dhokla batter with one hand while you

stick a plaster on a toddler's knee with the other, breastfeed a baby and phone your mum

to ask her if she needs you to accompany her to the dentist .

42 Discovering the world through your toddler's eyes: seeing him gaze at a caterpillar orstare transfixed at the stars dotting the sky.

43 Making a whole new circle of friends, who just happen to be parents, too.

44 Seeing your values - trying to be straight, kind, honest, hard-working and treat others

like you'd like to be treated - rub off on him.

45 Enjoying making up with a hug and kiss once a tantrum is over.

46 Going to a Disney film and no longer being the only unaccompanied adult in the queue!

47 Finding out that bringing up children gives your life a new sense of focus.

48 Crying when you drop him off at playschool for the first time, then bursting with pridewhen you pick him up and realise he hasn't missed you at all.

49 Displaying all his best artwork from playschool and turning your living room into your own

art gallery.

50 Hearing your child say "mum" and wondering who that is, then realising - it's YOU!