Question #16

16.If you are not yet a parent: What are you MOST looking forward to about parenthood? If you are a parent: What is the most surprising thing about being a parent? If you have taken the childfree path: What is the most surprising part of living childfree after infertility?

Shannon:

Not yet parent: The smile on my husband's face, the unconditional love of something we created together, watching him/her grow and develop and form their own personalities, etc. :o)

Mrs Red:

Not yet a parent-everything! Watching my baby develop in their own way, watching them learn and discover everything, teaching them how to be good people and hoping we do a good job. First day of school, bfs/gf's, every milestone, crafts from Sunday school and regular school, being needed when they're sick, seeing my husband in their eyes, watching him interact with them and them be OURS. Finally, when people tell me how cute my kids are, I can smile proudly and say thanks for real.

Ashley:
Not yet a parent. I agree with Shannon & Steph - the look on my husbands face -knowing our love created this little being and having unconditional love. I'm also looking forward to interacting as a family, teaching them things, learning things, everything :) I just can't wait!!!!!!

Question #7

7.If you had gotten pregnant that first month you started trying, how would you have been a different parent? What changes have you made to your parenting style (either current or future) in the time you spent trying to conceive?

Shannon: There is no real way to know how things would have been. I'm sure I wouldn't have nearly enough patience. If definitely learned that! Since we started this journey, we have had plenty of time to evaluate other people's parenting styles and to discuss how we plan on doing ours. Simple things from discipline to nursery design.

Mrs Red:As much as I wanted to have a family started right away, I'm semi-glad it didn't happen right away. We have had time to travel where we want when we want. We also have had time to grow as a couple without the added stress of children. We have figured a lot of things out about ourselves and each other. We are both more patient and we know what we do and don't want to do in raising our kids. We've seen our friends and family raise their children and learned from their mistakes and successes how we will raise ours. We both reeeeeally want children ASAP but its all in Gods time. He has shown us that as ready as we thought we were, we weren't quite as ready as we wanted to be but I think we're better off now than we were when we first started. :-)

Ashley:
This is a great question! Its amazing how most of us are oblivious to how much of a miricle pregnancy and children really are. I really feel like our parenting would be very similar, however I feel like I will be more patient and much more thankful and tolerable to the little things. I feel like I will truly be greatful for every good and bad moment of the journey with pregnancy and children. I think we will definitly be more ready financially, mentally and structurely. We've had the opportunity to do things we wouldn't have been able to if we would have had children right away.