Do you want kids? Or are you wondering if having a child is the right decision for you? Becoming a parent is undoubtedly a very personal decision that should never be taken casually. Understanding the reasons to become a parent can help you make the right decision and become a proud parent, if you choose to be one.
10 Good reasons to become a parent
There is no doubt that parenting is a challenge that will test you throughout your life. But it is also a blessing that allows you to discover who you truly are. Bringing a new life into this world is a big decision, especially because you want to give the best life to your child and make them as healthy and happy as you can. While it can involve a lot of hard work and preparation, while deciding to become a parent, you should always focus on the positive aspects of being a parent. When you have the right knowledge, support and intention, becoming a parent can turn out to be the greatest experience of your life.
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While the experience can be vastly different and unique for everyone, here are 10 sound reasons to become a parent that will help you make the right decision for you and your family:
1. You want to carry your family’s name forward
As a species, we are hardwired to breed and leave our DNA in the next generation, thanks to evolution. Hence, it is one of the most basic needs we have to continue the name and values of our family through procreation. Regardless of whether you have a boy or girl, most of us want to leave a legacy and continue the family lineage. Knowing that your children will carry on your name, values, principles and talents can be a very joyful and liberating feeling.
2. You want to have a family
Many people dream and aspire to build a family of their own – a place where they can belong, a place they can call home. This is one of the simplest reasons to become a parent. Having your own family can motivate and drive you to be more successful in your career and build a better life for yourself, your spouse, and most importantly, your children. If you had a positive childhood experience in a stable family, you may want to recreate those memories and experiences by living a similar life with your partner and children.
If you had a difficult childhood, you may be motivated to give your children the life you never had. For instance, if you were abused as a child, you may be motivated to raise your child with love, care and positive attention, keeping them far away from the shadow of abuse. The opportunity to create a family of your own can help you create a better life for yourself. It can enable you to either relive your childhood experiences or erase traumatic memories to build more positive ones.
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3. You grow as a person
Parenting is perhaps the best opportunity for you to become a better human being. Once you become a parent, your focus shifts from yourself or your spouse to this little human being that you have created. You dedicate your life to loving, caring for and protecting your innocent little child who is solely dependent on you for their every need. You feel responsible for raising them properly, teaching them values, helping them build a good character. Your needs and desires take a back seat and your child becomes your top priority.
Even when you don’t look or feel your best, you don’t feel saddened as your sole priority is caring for your newborn. While it is crucial that you care for your physical and mental health as a new parent, raising your child makes you filled with joy and a sense of purpose. You become more empathic, compassionate, loving, kind and selfless. Parenting is undoubtedly the quickest route to personal growth – and that is one of the most important reasons to become a parent.
4. You experience unconditional love
The first time your child says “I love you” will be one of the most memorable moments of your life. Nothing in this entire world can live up to the love and happiness you will experience when your child hugs and kisses you. It can change you completely and fill your heart with a type of love you never knew existed – unconditional love.
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Parents share a unique and powerful bond with their children that goes beyond all other relationships. As a parent, you will love your child unconditionally, regardless of how many mistakes they make or how frustrated you may feel taking care of them all the time. Likewise, your child will also love you without any limits or conditions as you are their world. The bond that you share with your newborn involves intense emotions, fulfillment, satisfaction, joy and inner peace. Unconditional love is among the most common reasons to become a parent. It is something that can’t be explained, only experienced.
5. You realize what is actually important
When you become a parent, you become less bothered by your external environment and what other people say or do. You don’t get easily triggered by others nor do you waste your time focusing on things that don’t matter, like all the drama and politics your co-worker is conjuring up at the workplace. You start to prioritize what is important as you realize what truly matters to you in life.
You stop caring about the sale that’s going on Amazon or what your frenemy posted on social media. Minor problems and things don’t register in your mind as you are focused on something much bigger and more important – your child. You focus on your career, your health, your family and your child as your priorities change drastically. Setting your priorities right is perhaps one of the sublest reasons to become a parent.
6. You have your own “mini me”
Can you imagine how awesome it would be to see your partner or yourself in a miniature version? There is no doubt that a child is a mirror image of his/her parents. A child often looks like their parents and possesses their traits, personalities, behavior patterns and even subtle mannerisms. Seeing a younger version of yourself can surely be a joyful and fascinating experience, especially if you are a first-time parent.
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Seeing your child has your eyes or that they smile like your spouse or even your own mother can fill your heart with wonder and happiness. Watching your son or daughter have the same artistic skills you do – whether it’s arts or sports, can be a truly unique experience for a new parent. Seeing your child as a tiny, younger version of yourself or your partner can make you feel overwhelmed and satisfied at the same time.
7. You have new found respect for your own parents
This is perhaps one of the most endearing reasons to become a parent. The moment you start making sacrifices for your newborn child, you will start appreciating your parents a lot more as you will realize they probably made the same sacrifices for you. When you understand the struggles your parents have gone through to raise you, you stop taking them for granted. And this happens when you raise your own child with the same love in your heart your parents had for you.
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The compromises, the fears and anxieties, the financial struggles, the sleepless nights, the emotional turmoil – everything that you go through as a new parent is exactly what your parents experienced just to make you happy. You realize that your parents grew up and matured with you. That they did not always know how to take the best care of you, yet they always tried their best. This realization can make you love your parents a lot more than you used to and help you build a stronger, and closer-knit family.
8. Your child’s achievements become yours
Even when you get that coveted promotion at work that you’ve been working really hard to get for the past few months, you will feel happier after seeing your daughter make her first drawing of her family. Even if you were a star athlete in college, you will be proud to see your son run around the house the first time. The tiniest achievements of your children will feel like monumental milestones when you have your own family.
These little accomplishments will become your source of joy and happiness. The first time your child walks, their first day at school, their first stage performance – cheering them will fill your heart and nourish your soul.
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9. You become a child again
Yes, it sounds silly, but having a child allows you to feel young and relive your own childhood memories. Becoming a mom or a dad, you start experiencing and doing things you used to do as a child. You play video games, go on vacations, eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, go to amusement parks or the zoo, watch cartoons, play sports or play with dolls with your child – things that made your childhood awesome. Your child allows you to bring out the kid inside you as you start seeing the world anew from your child’s perspective.
You laugh, you play, you break things and find it hilarious – you break out of your boring old adult self and make life fun again. Life is just so much more fun and memorable when you have your own child to be with – if that is not one of the greatest reasons to become a parent, then I don’t know what is.
10. You see life as a blessing
Being a parent is an honor and a privilege. It is one of the most remarkable and exciting experiences of life. As pregnancy can be a complicated process, having a child is nothing short of a miracle. It is a blessing from the universe that is not gifted to everyone. You find a new purpose and meaning in life and your mindset changes drastically. You experience emotions that you never felt before as you become filled with love and joy that the universe bestows on you. The moment you become a parent you see life as it is – a divine gift.
Being a parent brings a new dimension in your life and takes you on a new journey that is an epic adventure. You feel responsible for raising a new life and your soul finds a whole new meaning for your existence. You feel loved and blessed.
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Benefits of being a parent
Still wondering “Why should I become a parent?” Still in doubt even after learning about the reasons to become a parent? If you are confused whether becoming a parent is the right decision for you or not, here are some more benefits of parenting that will help you in the decision making process –
1. Parenthood makes you a more accountable, caring, forgiving, kinder and a better person.
2. You have the opportunity and ability to raise, shape and influence another individual which is both a responsibility and accomplishment.
3. You can build your own family, build a strong familial bond and overcome loneliness.
4. You can become an asset to society by raising a socially responsible child.
5. You can rely on your children to support and guide you in your old age.
6. You can boost your and your family’s self-esteem by meeting social expectations of being a parent.
7. You can develop necessary skills to be a parent, such as stress management, behavior management, setting realistic expectations, being assertive and other life skills that make you more matured and evolved.
8. You can become your child’s role model or greatest ‘hero’ through your behaviors and actions. This is both one of the most touching benefits and reasons to become a parent.
9. Being constantly aware of your child’s needs and emotions, you become more sensitive, mindful and aware in life.
10. You get to meet new parents and make new friends. You can share parenting tips and have a better social life.
11. You can have a lot of more fun, excitement, thrill and adventure in your life, thanks to your children.
12. You have deeper, more meaningful experiences in life when you become a parent.
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Are you ready to become a parent?
Whether you and your partner get pregnant and have your own child or choose to adopt one, parenthood will take you through a path like no other. While this journey can be difficult at times, the destination is worth far more than challenges. Seeing your child grow up to be a respectable and responsible adult is the greatest achievement in life for any parent.
However, becoming a parent is always a personal decision and all of us are in different stages of life going through different situations. So it is crucial that you weigh the pros and cons of being a parent before making your final decision. But there is no doubt that parenthood is a rewarding and memorable experience that involves numerous psychological, emotional and spiritual rewards.
Parenting is somewhat like traveling. You can read about it as much as you want, but taking the journey will make you understand how truly rewarding it is. Only a parent knows the real value of becoming a parent.
So plan ahead and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime.
If these reasons to become a parent have helped you in deciding about having a child, then let us know below.
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