Today's text question of the day led us down a road to the Holy Grail of parenting advice.  We asked you what you wish you knew before becoming a parent and now we have THE definitive list of things you need to know before becoming a parent.

TEXT QUESTION OF THE DAY:
Parents: What’s something you wish you would have been told BEFORE becoming a parent?

  • Tell daycare not to tell you when your child rolls over, walks, talks ect. That way you have firsts with your baby 👶 and don’t feel like you missed out
  • TQOTD. This question has me over thinking. Honestly, I wish someone had told me, or perhaps warned me, how much milk some kids drink. #6gallonsaweek #weshouldbuyacow
  • That there is nothing anyone can say to you, tell you to properly prepare you for child-rearing...that not even viewing others with their kids, no matter how intimate the relationship is, like a best friend being around or a sister...you can take notes but each person's experience is unique.
  • How broke i would be but you never know real love until you have a child.
  • Despite what you think, you are a good parent and you are doing a good job
  • Hmmm, having triplets born at 24 weeks gestation and weighing 1 pound 7 ounces...someone should have told me I would never get a good night’s sleep again.
  • Text Question of the day Re: parenting. Teenagers are 10x harder than toddlers. I have three all less than 2 years apart. Now 14, 16, & 18.
  • That choosing things like carseats and preschools are way more complicated and stressful than they need to be 😰
  • Once you start tablet time there’s no going back. Our little guy didn’t watch tv until his 2nd birthday and I wish we had waited longer!
  • The best way to have them learn to love reading is to let them have books as early as possible! Yup, books will get destroyed ... but I have a kid who's been reading chapter books since age 3. Books are replaceable, intelligence is not.
  • That i will never ever ever ever be able to sleep whenever i feel like it, also that teething can be a b*tc* and thats there would be lots of crying involved.. not from your kid but you. 😂
  • If you think being the parent of a baby up all night and lack of sleep is tough wait until they are teens. That’s real life right there. Letting go is hard work.
  • You're far from ready for this! Wait!!
  • Look into the family history ,and look at things that run in the family and study it to see if you want to pass that to your child.
  • That I would be more scared about taking care my kid at 17 than I did bringing her home from the hospital when I was 15 years old.
  • That I have given up the right to use the bathroom, in private, from now until the end of time
  • That it’s ok to not be the proverbial perfect parent.
  • They don’t exist.…
  • That other parents are even bigger ass****s than they were before you had kids.
  • That hurting for your child is the most painful.
  • That I would have to let them grow up and move away from me. 😪
  • That not a single one of us really know what the heck we are doing and to just do your best especially in the teen years
  • That your kid may hate you and still love you at the same time it just means your doing it kinda right
  • Nothing, I wouldn’t have listened anyway. The only perfect parents are those who aren’t parents yet
  • You may think you are running early but something will happen with your child to delay you lol
  • That there is nothing I can tell you to really prepare you. Everyone's journey is different
  • Buy stock in pharmaceuticals, batteries, and diapers. And please, please, be more patient with them.
  • That it’s going to hurt physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually to try and raise children with heart.
  • That I would have been doing the majority of the work alone, despite being married
  • The teen to young adult age, no one prepares you for that part.
  • That it's okay to ask for help from your village.
  • How expensive teenager shoes are
  • That as much as people like to say they are parenting experts, nobody really knows what the f they're doing, we all just wing it
  • Ugh. Student loans.
  • You will get pooped on. It's not a matter of "if"... But "when"
  • It hurts like hell.
  • Just have one
  • Wait till you are ready.
  • How much worrying you’ll do.
  • It's ok to not breastfeed
  • Be present in the moment. Regrets are like poison in your veins later.
  • That it’s ok not be perfect
  • Don't sweat the small stuff and pick your battles.
  • It is REALLY REALLY REALLY hard. No joke
  • #textquestionoftheday Even when they arent two yet the terrible twos starts early. Its worse when shes teething and throwing tantrums for no reason. Im sure Steve can agree
  • I wish somebody would have told me that no matter what you do or how hard you try your teenager is going to hate you
  • That there is nothing anyone can say to you, tell you to properly prepare you for child-rearing...that not even viewing others with their kids, no matter how intimate the relationship is, like a best friend being around or a sister...you can take notes but each person's experience is unique.
  • #TQOTD Parenting is so hard and the cute/funny moments are few and far between. Expect that your child is going to be naughty so you don't "lose it" as much. They only learn and become better humans through mistakes. Woosah
  • Never assume you have all the time in the world... blink of an they're grown up 😪❤
  • Something I wish I would have known is how you will never sleep again, and the most time alone you will get is going to the bathroom but sometimes the kids walk in there too. But love them dearly lol.
  • I wish someone told me that kids are needy, no matter the age. They can be 2, 7, 17, 25, 33.... they alway NEED something!!!
  • I don't think anybody could have told me anything about having kids that I didn't already know and every kid is so different there is no cookie cutter. I do wish people talked more about c-sections I had an emergency C-section and was so scared and did not have a whole lot of support recovering with a newborn.
  • I wish I had known that siblings fight, there's no way to completely stop it, and it's normal. I'm an only child so that one has been a challenge for me
  • That some days you don't always like your kids but it's ok because no matter what you love them.
  • I was told they grow up so fast, but during raising them you never think you’ll make it til they’re 18! But the truth is, it all goes by in a blink of an eye😢
  • ALWAYS have the correct color cups, and straws... Always.
  • #textquestionoftheday Many lactation nurses are horribly pushy and will bully you into only breastfeeding. Bring formula and a bottle with you to the hospital because they will not give you any if you are having a horrible time breastfeeding!
  • Apparently now that I am a mother it's no longer cool to like the Backatreet Boys. But it's not going to stop me from seeing them in concert! Sorry honey.
  • #TQOTD Never say 'My child always….' or 'My child never….' because as soon as you say it, the reverse will happen. Also, pack extra clothes for your kid and yourselves. Kids are sticky for no good reason at the most inopportune times.
  • Where somebody would tell me how to raise a teenage daughter with PMS when you're going through Meadow pause! Good God ! 😫😖
  • Teenage daughters are a slap in the face
  • No girls pain in the ass
  • That it would be the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it would also be the best thing I’ve ever done. Oh and that alcohol was made by parents for parents who have toddler boys and teenage daughters at the same time. #cheers 🍻
  • Dont freak out when your baby poops red after certain shots...lol
  • To pay more attention to see if i was with the right person so i dont put my kids thru divorce. Horrible on kids
  • Your bladder will never function properly ever again #sisterwithastain #clenchyourthighswhenyousneeze
  • I wish someone would have told me that most 5 year olds are know it all jerks!!!!!!!!! 5 going on 40 for real
  • That moment you see your kid for the first time, and the insane instant love and attachment you feel.
  • Enjoy your first pregnancy because your second pregnancy while raising a toddler will be exhausting

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