Parenting can be difficult no matter how young or old you are when you start. As they say it is the hardest job you will ever love.

During a slower mid-afternoon in clinic I was talking to one of our younger Medical Assistants about parenting. She had some very wise advice I’d like to share:

• Judgment from others will matter less

People have a lot to say when you’re a teenager, pregnant and unmarried. Society has made teenagers stand out as irresponsible and wild. Young parents often receive terrible criticism and they say that it’s the wrong way of starting your adult life. But once that child is born all that judgment gets put behind because you have someone to raise, worry for and to care for. Nothing else will matter as much as making sure that your child doesn’t fall through the cracks. (I will add that there is no “right time” to have a family and no matter your age someone will always question your decisions.)

• Realizing what “Priority” really means

Of course when you’re a new parent there are still so many things that your heart desires and wants: going out with friends, career advancement, time to yourself, etc. But having someone depend on you entirely changes some of what you desire. It’s ok to take time to re-evaluate what you really want. It still may be going out with friends but now you find friends who also want to be with your children. Maybe on-line courses will help your career instead of being in a job with late hours or travel. You may find too that as your children grow, your desires change and grow as well.

• Getting ready to go anywhere takes 10x the effort

I’m not going to explain this topic…you just have to experience it. It’s hard to get ready to go anywhere even when your children aren’t babies and toddlers! I realized this because my older sister has teenage boys. Even though they are boys they take just as long as teenage girls to get ready. hahaha

• Parenting can never be mastered no matter how young/old you are.
• Patience is KEY!
• Life will still be AWESOME!