A book recommendation: “Stumbling on Happiness”. It’s hilarious and insightful… just maybe skip the last chapter if you’re planning on having kids.
Now, here’s a mind-bender from happiness studies: People in objectively challenging situations (like conjoined twins) often report being just as happy as everyone else. Surprising, right?
Even more wild: People who experience traumatic events, like unexpected limb loss, tend to return to their baseline happiness after about six months. Our brains are resilience machines.
This got me thinking about my own journey into parenthood. A friend with a newborn recently asked if I missed my pre-baby life – the freedom, the ease of everything.
12 months ago? I’d have given an emphatic “YES!”
But now? I can barely remember what that “freedom” felt like. Life with my little one just feels… normal.
Here’s the kicker: Objectively, I know things were different before. But my brain has adjusted. The challenges that once seemed insurmountable are now just… Tuesday.
So if you’re in the thick of a tough situation – parenting-related or otherwise – remember this: Your brain has an incredible ability to adapt and find a new normal.
You might feel absolutely rubbish now, but time really does heal. It doesn’t make the challenges disappear, but it does make them feel more manageable.
To all the new parents out there: It gets easier. Not just because the tasks get simpler, and the baby and you get to know each other better, but because you get stronger. Hang in there.
[photo from St Chads 4 Dads with thanks to Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue]
Originally posted on this post on Instagram
