How does life change after you have children?

You don't have a life simply, everything you knew and did beforehand becomes void, I have three, My eldest is 16yrs then 14yrs then 9yrs & I'm only 34yrs, Don't have children if you want a life, and why would you want to bring a new life into this destructive world anyway, I'd think twice about it if I was you!

How much your life changes depends on what it was like to begin with. My partner and I already lived fairly frugally and have interests that the baby fits into pretty well. You don't have a lot of sex for a long time, but you don't care as much as you think you will, because your libido drops due to sleep deprivation. That applies to him as much as you. How much free time you get depends on choices you make and how much support you have from outside. I breastfeed and have no family support, so I only get time off when my hubby can provide it. I can't go too far though, because she's a mamma's girl; but I don't really want to go far. An hour or two off here and there is what I really need. Your hubby will get time off when either you let him, or if you get family support. Family time? It all becomes family time! I assume you mean couple time. Again, that happens when the baby is asleep or when your rellies help you out. So yes, your life changes. No, it's not a change for the worst, even though parenthood does have it's down side. Few parents would actually send their children back. Not for more than a few hours anyway :) Ask him if he thinks he would regret NOT having kids. You've lived the childfree life already, so you can mark that as "been there done that." Having kids is a new chapter in your life, that's all. It has it's pros and cons, just like any other life stage. In some tribes, people don't achieve full status as men or women until they've had kids. Not to knock those who choose not to have kids, or can't, but I can understand why those tribes believe that. Having our daughter has really made a man of my hubby. Not that my hubby wasn't a man before, but, oh I don't know if you get what I mean or not, but other parents probably will. There are books around that provide stories that fathers tell about their experiences of fatherhood. Get one, they are a good antidote to stupid fear stories that are making your hubby feel like there is no positive side to parenthood.

Too many ways to say, but here are some:

1. Nothing is more important than your child

2. You do everything for your child - meaning, there is nothing you don't do anymore that in some way doesn't have to do with your child

3. You will be sleep deprived for a few years

4. You will know happiness like never before

5. You will know sadness like never before

6. You will be content to just sit and watch your child sleep, eat, play. Other things in life can wait.

7. Basically, you will forget what it was like to not have children!

8. You will wonder why not everyone has children because it is the best feeling in the world to be a parent.

No time for yourself.

Now you come home from work, kick off your shoes, have a nice bubble bath, read a book, watch your favorite show? No more.

You come home from work with a baby or toddler who has missed you all day. They're cranky and tired and over stimulated from being at day care. They hang on you. You can't go to the bathroom or fix supper without a child on your hip. You watch childrens shows, not yours. By the time they're sleeping you're too exhausted to do anything but still have housework to do.

No more sleeping. You're up at night with a baby and/or toddler. You get up tired. You go to bed tired.

No more sleeping in. They wake up early and come to wake you up.

No more leisurly shopping trips. When you shop with children you go as fast as you can, and get out of there. You can't concentrate on what to get beucase you're watching the child.

Once your'e a mother, your'e a mother to the whole world.

You notice all the children large or small who are angry, or dirty, with their hungry little faces wishing someone loved them.

Being a mother is terminal. It never goes away. Like all kinds of love, it sometimes hurts.

Think carefully. In the middle of the night when you can't keep your eyes open, can you still keep your hands gentle and be filled with love for that baby that won't sleep?

When an older child is defying you, embarrasing you, making you nuts, will you still see what a great kid they are?

Well after you have children you live for them every decision and choice you make is to benefit them. Your life is never the same after having kids. I was 19 when I got pregnant with my first and I said I would never have kids but It was the best thing that I have ever done I love being a mom and I would not change it for the world

Quite simply; you become a parent.

Having children is the single most life-altering event anyone experiences.

You are now living for someone else, someone else is the most important person in your world.

Their happiness, their health, their safety, their future and comfort are paramount to you and that is just as it should be.

Quite suddenly you mature, you worry about things you gave a passing thought to before.

Your life revolves around another, it's wonderful and it's frightening that you are responsible for this new person.

):

Feel very proud to give life. Everything revolves around them. You've no time for yourself. Become posessive, protective and ready to sacrifice anything for them. Always think about their good upbringing, which would mould them into gems to shine well in life.

Suddenly you realise responsibilities. You get matured and learn to be patient.

No more weekends to relax . Always on your toes. But inspite of all the stress, hectic life enjoy and forget the pain when you see the happy faces.

Your focus changes to someone other than yourself. You become less selfish. You understand that miracles exist. You have created a human being! You finally know what unconditional love is. You will love a child more than your spouse, more than your parents, more than anyone.

You have more expense, sacrifices must be made. You worry a lot.

You sometime step over boundaries that the child will call"invading (my) space." You will fight over your child's choice of love interest, because no one is every good enough. We you lose a child to death, whether by disease, accident or suicide, your grief will be heart shattering.

The main thing is your life doesn't concentrate on just you and your SO anymore. Now everything you do will probably effect you child(ren) in some way. So, you have to be more aware of what you do, what you say, how you act, etc.

Life gets better and it gets worse!

You are no longer the center of anyone's universe - the child is.

But the most important job you can have is raising them up to be a good person - and sometimes no one thanks you for that.

And that's o.k. too - because you can see what a wonder they are!