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Motherhood

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Pros And Cons Of Having Children Earlier In Life

People often tell us we're so lucky to have had Isabella when we did because now we are like friends. Even though that’s great now, it was hard being young parents then. I was reflecting on this and wanted to share and give you some insight into the pros and cons of having kids earlier in life, so you have an idea when planning.

Bini was 24, and I was 23 when our first child, Isabella was born. We were straight out of college and knew nothing about raising a child, but one look at our daughter’s dark brown eyes, and we were hooked. There is something so precious about babies that all you want to do is love them with all your heart. I’m glad everything happened the way it did. Isabella saved my life and brought me out of misery after my father died. My heart was and will forever be full of love for her. I feel blessed to have kids at different stages in my life and have learned to appreciate the timing of it all. 

Here are some pros and cons of having our children young:

The Pros-

1)    The best part of having children young was having all the energy to run around with the kids when they were little. I see such a difference in the way Bella was raised when compared to Lorenzo and now Novena. As I got older, my energy level went down, and with each child, I can see a difference in how I parent.

2)    Isabella is now almost our height, so while our friends are just now having babies and going through all the motions of being a parent, we've already mastered it (well as much as anyone can). 

Bella and her Daddy at her 12th BirthdayParty

Speaking of parties.. have you ever tried paperless post? When it comes to sending out invites for any kind of gathering, their the best!

3)    With youth comes free spirit and the idea that nothing has to be perfect. There was no structure, no plan, and every day we made it as parents was a blessing. I miss those carefree days when I got in a car and took Bella everywhere with me, including restaurants at 9 pm. Asked if I’d do that now and my answer would definitely be no. We were also the master of leaving Bella with our friends and disappearing for hours to get a break from parenting. Another carefree behavior I’d never entertain today. 

 The Cons-

1)    We were babies ourselves and knew nothing about parenthood. Everything we learned was through books and family members that came to help. 

 2)    The feeling that life was passing me by. While I was home raising a child, my friends were all going to grad school, partying, and just starting in their careers.I felt left out and alone on my motherhood journey. The only moms I could relate to were much older than me and had established lives already. 

 3)    Patience-While you have all the energy in the world, you lack patience (the kind that comes with age).  

 Knowing all we know today, would we do it all over again? HECK YEA! 

So, what would I tell my 23-year-old self today? 

I’d tell her to be more patient and listen to other people’s advice but still follow her heart. I’d tell her to be confident in her parenting and trust the purpose. Most of all, I’d say that although there is no perfect parent, having structure and a plan in place is key to ensuring that everything gets done. 

With age comes the wisdom of understanding that we are all exactly where we need to be in life. If you’re currently pregnant or even thinking about it but terrified of the idea of bringing a child into this world, consider this: God only gives us what he knows we can handle. Don’t overthink the idea of being a parent, simply be one and let your heart guide you along the way. Take everything day by day and always be a present parent. 

 I hope this blog helps you or someone you know. As always, I’d love to hear from you. Are you or were you once a young parent? If so, how did you handle it? 

Yours,

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