It’s no secret that having kids changes life up quite a bit. Sure, you might desperately try to cling to the remnants of your pre-parenthood self once you step into your new role of being responsible for someone other than yourself. At the same time, there’s a high likelihood that having kids will also have you appreciating things you never thought twice about in the past. Read below if you’re looking for solidarity regarding the crazy things you start loving after having kids. There’s a good chance you’re not alone!
1. Mondays!
As a stay-at-home mom, the days tend to blend together over here. That said, many of my mom friends who work outside the home long for the start of the week after being on 24/7 kid duty. Although I love Mondays because they mean baby gymnastics with my daughter (the cutest thing ever, seriously), I can totally see why this is something you start loving after kids because the change in parenthood scenery would be a welcome occasion for many.
2. When school starts.
And when you decide to take your child to daycare or school, you’ll love the summers but will be so grateful when the school year rolls around. (We love our teachers!)
3. Anything that is a drive-thru.
Toddler crying on the way to the playground? Thank goodness for mini donut holes. Are you running on three broken hours of sleep over the past three days? Large iced coffee it is. Just need a break from cooking all the meals for all the tiny people? You get the drift. And you don’t even have to get out of your pajamas or do your hair and makeup. You also don’t have to take your kids out of the car, so there is no running around for you. Drive-thrus are the best.
4. When no one is touching or talking to you.
Even the most motherhood-loving moms get overstimulated and touched out from time to time. Plus, come on, our minds are constantly on overdrive as it is. Sometimes there’s nothing more refreshing than the sweet sound of silence. But that can also be dangerous . . . what are they doing? Why is it so quiet?!
5. Being alone.
This one goes hand in hand with #3. We can love being with our babies more than anything in the world and still cherish those sacred moments of solitude, even if it’s to use the restroom or hide away to write the week’s to-do list in peace!
6. Hot coffee.
Hot coffee was great before you had kids, but there is a new appreciation for it after you have little ones. It’s a simple thing, but when you make yourself a hot cup of coffee and enjoy it without reheating it several times, you know it’s a good day. And to add to this, enjoying a hot meal while it’s still hot is also pretty great too.
7. Grocery pickup.
Another thing you start loving after kids is curbside pickup. Because who has time for interrupting your child’s spontaneous car nap, using half of the available cart space to transport squirmy tiny humans, or mapping out a master plan to avoid meltdowns over a $9.99 bouncy ball, anyway? Thankful we now have online grocery ordering.
8. Walking in circles around the neighborhood. Again and again.
Baby gets a stroller ride, and you get some fresh air and your steps in. Win-win!
9. Taking a drive to clear your head.
Maybe it’s raining outside, or the weather is way too hot. Getting behind the wheel and listening to something other than the Encanto soundtrack on repeat is a good way to refresh your mind.
10. A rare two minutes of snuggles with your beloved furry friend.
This one might sound a little dramatic if you’re not an animal person. If you are, you know it’s true: Our relationships with our pets change when we have human kids. There’s something special about remembering what it was like when it was just you and Fido!
11. Getting to call the shots on holidays.
You have your own family to prioritize now, so if you can’t make it to the larger festivities, nobody can (more realistically, nobody should) blame you.
12. Playground hopping.
There’s something a little extra magical about the free, outdoor fun that’s also exhausting for the kids. (Nap time ease, am I right?)
Bonus: an opportunity to make mom friends who love playground hopping too!
13. Falling asleep by 8 pm . . . too crazy?
No, no. Parenting is exhausting. As much fun as our babies are to hang with from sun up to sun down; mama needs rest (and about 30 solid minutes of browsing social media in peace). For real, though. I used to sneak out of the house to go to parties, and now I sneak out of (kid) parties to go to my house.
14. Or staying up until midnight doing absolutely nothing.
Savoring an entire bowl of ice cream that you don’t have to share while watching your new favorite Netflix show is a different level of peace.
15. Animal sounds like cows, chickens, and sheep.
No, really though, is there anything more adorable than hearing your young toddler proudly show off their “moos” and “clucks” and “baaas” for the first time?!
16. Baby puffs, chicken nuggets, and hot dogs.
These are the lifeline food items of mamas with sticky-fingered toddlers. They keep them distracted long enough for you to take a bite of your food before your little one wants what’s on your plate.
17. Being asked how you’re doing every now and then!
Once you have kiddos, everyone asks about the kids. But very rarely do people ask about you — the mama and organizer of your home. It’s nice when someone stops to take the time to check in with you and see how you’re really doing. As you can see, you start loving the little things after kids. Even introverts can appreciate feeling seen by others outside of their tiny-human circle.
18. A long, hot shower.
You just hope you don’t hear phantom baby cries (or real baby cries) so you can enjoy the day’s craziness warmly washing off you.
19. Connecting with the doctor’s office on the first call in.
While needing to see the pediatrician probably isn’t your idea of an ideal family outing, being helped on time when it comes to your children is something to rejoice over. There’s nothing more stressful than playing all-day phone tag when your little one is sick! Or sitting in their waiting room forever waiting for your child to be seen.
20. Participating in Facebook groups galore.
In the world of social media that exists today, all of the latest research, community, and support you could ever need is at your fingertips. Online mom tribes are a real and amazing thing if you choose to utilize them!
21. And perhaps, many other social platforms!
Monthly milestone posts? Gotta share them on Instagram. First birthday party inspiration? Pinterest it is. Love and relationships after baby? Sensory activities for all ages? Mom hacks to remove permanent marker on your couch? You’ll find experts aplenty on TikTok. (Okay, well, not experts exactly, but you get the point).
22. Smiling at photos of your kiddos after tucking them in.
You long for quiet nights but miss them as soon as they’re five feet across the hallway. And you can’t help but smile, knowing that tiny human is yours.
And last but certainly not least, there’s one more thing you might love more than anything else after you have kids.
23. Soaking up all the crazy little moments in all the crazy things.
Parenting is a wild ride. Every twist and turn is over before you know it, and that’s a bittersweet realization. The messy, silly, hard, and joyful moments are all loved and accepted because you know you’ll look back one day and wonder where in the world they went!
