029: The Biggest Lessons We’ve Learned the First 18 Months of Parenting

18 months of parenting has absolutely flown by, and we’re so grateful to reflect on the highs and lows of the past year and a half with our little man. Our expectations of parenthood were wildly different from the reality they experienced, but we wouldn’t trade our experiences for the world!   The top 3 lessons we learned from the first 18 months of parenting are:
  1. Parenting Is An Avenue for Personal Growth
  2. Parenting Is Better As A Team
  3. Gratitude Makes Parenting Easier
  Click play NOW to hear the ups and downs of parenting, and how these lessons have shaped how we parent our son!  

Lesson 1: Parenting Is An Avenue for Personal Growth

One thing we discuss in this conversation is how our son truly acts as a mirror, reflecting back our own issues and problems. We have always been big fans of personal development, but parenthood has shown a light on what we need to work on in order to be the best version of ourselves for each other and for our son.   Self-care takes on a whole new level of importance now as we learn that we have to fill our own cups in order to be better parents!   One of the biggest obstacles Kyle faces is the absence of his father and the lack of opportunity to ask him questions or seek his dad’s guidance on fatherhood. There are certain conversations and moments that he would have liked to share with his father, but now he must navigate them on his own.   This burden of figuring out fatherhood without the guidance of his own father weighs heavily on Kyle. He wants to be the best version of himself for his son, but also wants to be authentic and transparent about his own emotions. He recognizes the importance of showing his son that it’s okay to feel upset or sad and wants to foster a working relationship where his son feels comfortable expressing his emotions as well.   Erika always supports him in navigating these emotions. She encourages him to lean into his feelings and assures him that it is normal and okay to experience them. Through their conversations, they are able to address these challenges and work towards creating an environment where their son feels safe and supported in expressing his emotions.   In general, navigating emotions as a new parent can be a complex and emotional journey. It’s important to acknowledge and process these emotions while also striving to be an authentic and supportive parent.  

Lesson 2: Parenting Is Better As A Team

If parenting brings about emotional and personal growth, it encourages growth for us as a couple, too. We navigate all of the challenges of parenthood TOGETHER and emerge stronger, which is probably the biggest lesson we can pass on to you.   Initially, we struggled to express and share our emotions with each other because we worried that burdening each other with our feelings would only add to their struggles. However, as we embarked on the journey of parenthood, we realized the interconnectedness of their emotions. We discovered that when one person is off, it affects the entire family unit. This realization prompted us to open up and share their emotions, leading to a deeper level of support and understanding between us.   Our goal is to create a nurturing environment where our children feel safe to express and navigate their own emotions, and we can only do that if we give ourselves the grace to do it too.   

Lesson 3: Gratitude Makes Parenting Easier

Gratitude has played a significant role in making the last 18 months  more manageable and fulfilling, plain and simple.   Being tired is a common feeling among parents, but we always make sure to express our gratitude when  one parent offers to watch the child while the other recharges. It may seem simple, but by acknowledging and appreciating each other’s efforts, we create a sense of unity and collaboration, making the challenges of parenting more bearable.   One of our favorite quotes is from Michael J. Fox: “With gratitude, optimism becomes sustainable.”   This quote encapsulates the essence of gratitude in parenting… By cultivating a mindset of gratitude, we can find strength and motivation to navigate the highs and lows of raising our children. If you enjoyed this episode of the Trust Issues Podcast, leave an iTunes review and let us know! We’d love to hear from you about the biggest lessons you are learning during your own parenting journey on Instagram @trustissuespodcast.

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