The Parenting Pregame Warm Up – How Clueless We All Start
Let’s be honest—nothing prepares you for parenting. Not books. Not classes. Not even that one friend who can’t stop giving advice because their toddler once said “please” without prompting.
Before kids, you think you know. You have a Pinterest board full of color-coordinated nurseries and Montessori toys. You imagine peaceful stroller walks and bath time as a calm bonding experience. You say things like “My kids will never eat processed snacks” and “We’ll limit screen time.”
Cue the laugh track.
Then the baby arrives, and suddenly you’re Googling “is it normal for newborns to cry this much?” while wearing a shirt soaked in spit-up and wondering if four hours of sleep in 12-minute increments counts as a nap or a hallucination.
Welcome to the Parenting Pregame
This is the warm-up round, folks. It’s where you learn to function while holding a baby, a burp cloth, and a lukewarm cup of coffee all at once. It’s where you realize diaper changes are a full-body sport and baby giggles are the greatest sound on Earth—unless it’s coming from the nursery at 2 a.m. and you’re trying to sleep.
You’ll experience your first real-time “blindsides” here. Like the moment you confidently say, “He’s never peed during a diaper change!” and instantly get hosed like a fire hydrant. Or when you attempt a public outing and forget the wipes. Or the extra outfit. Or your sanity.
Parenting Pregame – No One Knows What They’re Doing
Here’s the big secret: none of us have it figured out. Even the mom who looks like she’s got everything together is probably wearing yesterday’s yoga pants and bribing her toddler with gummy bears.
Parenting doesn’t come with a rulebook. It comes with a crying baby, a pile of laundry that regenerates like a Marvel villain, and a heart so full you wonder how it keeps beating under the weight of it all.
Parenting Pregame – The First Lesson: Laugh or Cry (Sometimes Both)
The best thing you can do in the pregame warm up stage is find the humor. Laugh at the ridiculous moments. Cry if you need to (sometimes right into your cereal). Ask for help. Order takeout. Wear the stretchy pants. Learn that loving your child fiercely and failing often are not mutually exclusive.
You’re not behind—you’re in the game.
And guess what?
You’re doing better than you think.
Parenting Pregame – What I Wish I’d Known (Before I Was Knee-Deep in Diapers and Self-Doubt)
- Babies don’t care about your plans.
You can read every book, watch every parenting video, and take twelve birthing classes—but that tiny human will still throw a wrench in your carefully laid game plan by spitting up down your bra five minutes before the family photo. - You’re not a bad parent if you don’t love every second.
The myth that “it goes by so fast—enjoy every moment!” is well-meaning, but let’s be real: no one enjoys cleaning blowout diapers in the Walmart parking lot. And that’s okay. You’re still a good parent even if you don’t treasure every single second. - Sleep is not a luxury—it’s a battleground.
Newborn sleep cycles are about as predictable as a goat on espresso. Accept this. Sleep when you can. Nap if the baby naps. Or don’t. Just know this is a season—and like all seasons on the farm, it passes. Eventually. - You’ll feel like you’re failing. A lot.
Every parent questions themselves. Constantly. It’s part of the job. But what matters more than perfection is consistency, presence, and a whole lot of grace—for yourself and your kids. - The love hits you sideways.
It’s not always instant. Sometimes it sneaks up on you in the middle of a midnight feeding or a gummy grin. One day you’ll look at your child and realize your heart is permanently walking around outside your body—and suddenly, all the chaos is worth it.
Coming up next:
👉 Part 2 – Parenting is a Full Contact Sport – Surviving the Rookie Years
We are beginning a full series on Parenting as a Full Contact Sport and we would love to have you along for the ride! Join our Community and never miss a single thing!
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