This Man Took To Twitter To Share The 10 Things He Learned In His 160 Days As A Father
When a man named Bonisile Mgidi from South Africa became a father this past fall, he realized just how challenging parenthood could be. He realized just how unprepared he was to become the father of a tiny little girl who couldn't do anything on her own. Mgidi thought that more people should be prepared for parenthood, so four months after his daughter was born, he took to Twitter to share what he had learned.
Keep reading to find out what his top ten tips are.
How It Started
This is the tweet that started it all. In this photo, you can see Bonisile with his newborn baby daughter. Her name is Mihla. You can't really see her in this photo, we assume she's downright adorable.
Lesson Number One
The first thing that Bonisile learned was that his life was about to revolve around poop for the foreseeable future. Never before has poop been so important to him. What a strange life.
They Grow Up So Fast
Don't spend too much money on baby clothes that your kid will outgrow in a couple of weeks. Babies grow up so fast! Use hand-me-downs whenever possible. Your bank account will thank you.
That Tricky Smile
Babies will drive you crazy, and then they'll flash you a smile that makes you forgive all of the sleepless nights, messy floors, and endless crying. A baby's smile is the ultimate situation diffuser.
All Of The Backup Outfits
Babies spit up on everything. They don't care if it's laundry day and you don't have any more clean shirts. Always have a backup outfit for everyone in your household. Maybe more than one backup outfit...
Babies Get Sick A Lot
If you're not running to the pharmacy at least once per week, are you even a parent? Why do babies need so many supplies? They're definitely some high-maintenance little people.
Get Your Reading In
It turns out that they do actually come with a handbook. It would do you some good to read it. There is so much information that you need to know when you become a new parent.
A Curated Playlist
It turns out that babies like music too. Well, they like a specific list of songs. Bonisile has figured out what those songs are, and now he's sharing his knowledge with all of us.
All To Yourself
Parents are willing to share pretty much anything except their child's love. We secretly love it when our kids can only be soothed in our arms. It makes all of the trouble worth it.
Keep Watch
Parenting is a dangerous game. You have to constantly be on your toes or else your baby is going to have her toes in the electrical socket. Always keep watch.
Find Support
You absolutely need support when you have a new baby. They say that it takes a village to raise a child, and that is absolutely true. Always accept help when people offer.
A Bonus Lesson
You can never have enough photos of your kids. They grow up so fast, and you want to have all of their life stages documented on your phone. Invest in a separate memory card.
Some Lessons From Other Parents
Naked infants are ticking time bombs. You have to get them into the bath quickly unless you want to be cleaning up a mess on the bathroom floor...and your clothes...and the bath mat.
A Yogurt Problem
If you give your 4-year-old yogurt, there is a 100% chance that it will end up on your 1-year-old. Unless you don't have a 1-year-old. Then it will end up everywhere else.
Very Particular
Kids are very opinionated when it comes to which chairs they will and won't sit on. Sometimes a simple thing like sides can make all the difference.
The Tummy Time Rules
All parents out there know the struggles of tummy time. It's supposed to be good for your kid's development, but be careful about spontaneous explosions. Note to self: wait an hour after eating.
The Concept Of Timing
Kids don't really understand the concept of forewarning. When they have to go, they have to go. Most of the time, by the time they tell you, it's too late.
A Great Role Model
Kids model the behavior that they see, so if they see you procrastinating, chances are that they're going to pick up the habit too. Be careful what you do and say in front of your kids.
A Little Biology Lesson
Kids don't understand a lot of what happens when they go to the doctor's office. It's important to explain things to them so they don't get the wrong idea.
A Universal Truth
If your toddler is being oddly quiet, chances are he's gotten into some kind of trouble. Sometimes that trouble involves making a huge mess out of a dirty laundry basket.
The Scariest Game
Hide-and-seek is all well and good when your kid is just hiding behind his hands or under the kitchen table, but when they figure out how to get into some really great hiding spots, all bets are off.
Cheers!
Be careful about teaching your kids things that they could easily become fixated on. Now this kid is obsessed with cheers-ing his dad. Dad doesn't need that kind of encouragement right now.
A Christmas Mistake
When kids are really little, they don't have a concept of time, so they don't know if it's December 25th or July 2nd. This 3-year-old figured out what a calendar was just in time for Christmas.
He Wanted It All For Himself
When it comes to candy, kids don't care about people in need. As far as they're concerned, they're in need—of candy. This teachable moment clearly didn't go as she had planned.
Dad Lessons
This dad learned a tough lesson today, and that lesson is to never play with your kid immediately after mealtime. Babies have really sensitive stomachs. You're just asking to get puked on at that point.
A Hard Truth
This fact is a hard thing to come to terms with, but when you become a parent, you learn how real this possibility really is. What a strange lesson to learn.
Little Life Shifts
Your life changes in big ways and little ways when you become a parent. This might be a little way, but it really drives home how different your life becomes after you have a baby.
Not So Wholesome
Do you remember Love Actually as a wholesome Christmas movie? Well, it is, but it's also not really a movie for kids. Remember that scene with Martin Freeman and the blonde lady?
Watch Where You Swing
At least this kid gave the crowd of people some warning, but it would have been better not to hit a golf ball towards their faces in the first place.
You Can't Fix The Smell
Baby rooms may look nice in pictures, but pictures can't capture what it actually smells like in there. Spoiler alert: it smells like poop. It smells like poop all the time.
