Being a parent is one of those roller coasters that nobody can prepare us for, One minute we can leave the house without much trouble, the next it’s like a military operation that really tests our patients. There are some obvious milestones like the first day of school, and when the children learn to walk, but there are also some milestones that seem to sneak upon us, and we don’t really prepare for. Here are some of those undervalued and unexpected milestones.
Last feed
No matter which method you choose to feed your new baby, there will come a time when they don’t need you to help them eat or drink at all before long you will have an opinionated toddler, who decides exactly what they will and won’t eat. It turns out most toddlers have a festive period in their lives and those sweet days of nursing a baby in the middle of the night or a distant memory.
First Christmas concert
Christmas concerts in school are always a highlight of the wintertime. Angel wings and donkey outfits come out in force, and you can sit down with a mince pie and listen to the beautiful singing of the children. Most people find themselves at least a little emotional at this milestone. Are usually starting preschool, and the last one will often be around 10 years old. At this point, the older children are done with this tradition, but the parents and teachers still smile through the whole thing.
Last school run
The school run can be a stressful time, trying to get everybody ready and out the door and to school on time, is sometimes an impossible task. But when you realise you’ve completed your last school run, because your child is moving up to ‘big’ school, and no longer needs you to hold their hand on the way to school, you realise that these moments are quite precious. Children need to gain independence, but this is a milestone that we tend to think nothing of until it’s passed.
First mobile phone
We can’t avoid technology, many toddlers even have their own tablets and devices, but when it comes to actual work in mobile phones the age a child receives one of these, is reducing every year. But before you actually hand a mobile device to your child, you may realise that they have grown up quite a lot, and being able to stay in touch with their family and friends is a lovely thing for them. Of course, we all worry about security and safety, but there are many apps and procedures you can put in place, that will keep your child safe. This is a relatively new milestone but one that most children will be excited to reach.
We often hear “children grow so quick“, but that’s because it’s true, embracing every moment while your children are small, is undoubtedly essential. So when you reach a new milestone record it and try not to be too emotional. Eventually, the children will have left home, and all will have to look back on our photos and videos of this special time.