We all know parenthood changes a person. But did you know that parenthood has the power to transform seemingly lame things into really awesome ones? I mean, stuff I used to roll my eyes at, I’m totally into now. Check it:
1. Drive Thru – I’m a reasonably fit vegetarian and before I had a baby, I’ll admit I looked down my nose at slobs who stank up their cars with fast food from the drive thru. Then my daughter started falling asleep in her car seat at lunchtime, and the only way to make sure she got her nap was to Keep. On. Driving. For like three hours. So here’s what this vegetarian discovered: Carl’s Jr. offers fried zucchini! Jack in the Box has jalapeno poppers AND mozzarella sticks! My car does stink, but drive thru sure doesn’t.
2. All-Inclusive Vacations – Pre-baby, I fancied myself an adventurous world traveler. I swam with sharks, climbed volcanoes and rode elephants.
That was then…
An all-inclusive resort (or God forbid a cruise) sounded claustrophobic and dull. But now that I’m a mom, I fantasize about a trip that comes with childcare and a buffet. Bring it, Club Med Ixtapa, and bring it soon.
This can’t come soon enough
3. Dinner & A Movie – In my dating years, I disdained the classic dinner & a movie outing, believing it lacked creativity. The way to woo me was with picnics at the beach, concerts under the stars or champagne in the hot tub – you know, anything they do on The Bachelor.
These days, the chance to sit across from my honey and savor a good meal, without cutting up anyone’s food but my own, while talking about…wait for it…the movie we just saw!… is the height of indulgence. Retroactive apologies to past offerers of said dinner & a movie who didn’t get sex from me.
4. Chain Restaurants – My taste in restaurants was once an obnoxious combination of impossible-to-get-into “it” spots and “aren’t I cool?” ethnic holes-in-the-wall. Today it’s any place with a high chair, a kids menu, reasonable prices and some running room. Hello, California Pizza Kitchen!
5. Granny Panties – I never really felt comfortable in thongs–I just knew that as a woman under 60, I was supposed to wear them. However, as a stay-at-home mom, I no longer care about panty lines because I’m pretty sure the only person checking out my ass is my toddler, who loves any excuse to use the words “tushy” and “booty.” So why floss my butt with a thong when I can relax in a comfy pair of granny panties – not just for periods anymore!
6. Calling My Parents – I love my family, but I’ve never been a phone person, and I used to procrastinate calling home for entire semesters. Now I’m Skyping them constantly–to share the baby, to complain, to brag, to get advice. Plus I’m finally willing to listen to all those icky stories about what it was like to potty train ME without covering my ears and singing La-La-La.
7. Staying In – As a parent, I know what Dorothy took all movie to learn: there’s no place like home. Just last week, I brought my daughter to a friend’s house and within seconds she had run into a glass coffee table with her face. Home is the only place that’s totally babyproofed, has an endless supply of diapers, wipes, toys and snacks, and is a non-embarrassing safe haven for my daughter to experiment with screaming, throwing, spilling and generally acting like a beautiful little mental patient, aka a toddler. Plus if I ever get hungry, there’s always plenty of food on the floor.
great post – I totally hear you on #1. I get so annoyed when anyone BESIDES a mother with a sleeping child is using the drive through!! I’m like seriously?? Go park your car and walk inside, this thing should be for mom’s only. Mainly I use them to buy ice coffee that I drink and put on the radio to my music and drive for an hour or so. But I relate to mostly everything here.
Donna, what do you do after you drink your iced coffee and have to pee? That’s the next problem I have to solve.
Yep – and my favorite non lame thing anymore – going to bed early!!! 😉
I almost included going to bed early on the list – that is a given!
Ha! I love this! I love the last one! Aside from my house and my parents house, everywhere else is suspect and can’t be trusted!
And of course Babygroup…
LOVE this!!! Even though my kids aren’t little anymore I still feel the same way about all of these things lol.
LOL – I was kind of hoping I’d grow out of my new “passions” but maybe not!
Drive Thru & Chain restaurants. I could have written those. Boston is sorely lacking in any kind of drive throughs…that was tough. We just “re-discovered” CPK and it is like the shang-rel-la’s of all nights out (mostly because our previous favorite chain, Not Your Average Joe’s banned us when i was 9 months pregnant and our toddler barfed all over our table on Friday night date night). Last time we were in LA, before you had your own bambino, my hubby actually suggested “maybe they have high chairs at A.O.C.”.
I never knew you got banned! That’s so rock & roll. Let’s totally take all our kids to AOC next time you’re here…HA.
This is brilliant, especially #1 and #4. If you’re not already familiar, let me tell you about the glorious intersection of those two. It’s called curbside pickup. You call ahead to a chain restaurant, and when you get there, they bring the food out to your car for you. Granted, some places are very disorganized about it, but when it works, it’s magic.
Jerry Mahoney recently posted..I Know Nothing About… Potty Training
You are rocking my world with this curbside pickup concept…I gotta try that out.
Drive Thru Starbucks has become my best friend. I just wished it showed up more often.
I know, and there are so few that the ones with drive thru get these huge lines at busy times of day – not helping the cause.
Yeah, and what is up with Starbucks that don’t have a Drive-thru? It’s such a terrible tease, and you end up circling the parking lot, thinking, I must have just missed it, it must be here somewhere! Then you start to wonder, should I just ask some random stranger who is able to get out of their car, to get my coffee? Is that too pathetic?
OMG that’s funny – we should make signs to put in our car windows, like “will pay for coffee delivery” – solicit people right off the street.
Omg, I just peed while laughing at this…. absolutely HILARIOUS!!!! And YUP, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF ‘EM! love it!
Dinnae Galloway recently posted..New Beginnings
Thank you Dinnae!
Amen! Especially to #1
Thanks Pam. I just hope I’m not still a drive thru junkie once my kid is old enough to drive herself.
Great post! I think kids add so much to our lives–and they help remind us to have fun wherever we are. Visiting from SITS…
I agree Nicole, they help us stay in the moment, too (I’m such a planner). Thanks for visiting!
Stopping by from SITS, hope you have a wonderful day! And I agree with you on all those points – and second early bed time as one of the not-so-lame-things anymore.
Ana Lynn recently posted..24 Time Management Tips For Busy Moms
Thanks Ana Lynn. Can’t wait to read your 24 time management tips – I need them!
This is all so true! Even a date night in the house is nice… kids asleep, no need to pay babysitter. 🙂
Meeghan recently posted..Teacher Appreciation Surprise
I love home date nights. Netlfix makes us feel fancy these days.
So true, so true. Mom of 4 right here, nodding head in agreement. Happy SITS day!
Jean Lynd recently posted..That 3D Mascara You’ve Been Hearing About? Yes. Younique’s Fiber Lashes…Reviewed
Thanks Jean!
So true!! I’d love dinner and a movie with my granny panties right about now!!
Rabia @TheLiebers recently posted..Henry’s Super Seven Birthday Bash
LOL that sounds fabulous.
Love this list because ALL true – although, I was always a homebody, never much of a traveler or wanderlust for it – so having a son didn’t change much but you definitely appreciate home more just because of the familiarity – and if your kid breaks something, it doesn’t phase you as much. Have a great one Amy and enjoy your feature! -Iva
AwesomelyOZ recently posted..What You COULD Have Learned
Thanks so much. I’ve definitely found my secret homebody…seriously why ever leave the house it is so much harder!
Great post! Especially the drive thru. Visiting from SITS. Enjoy your day!
http://www.LivingHappierAfter.com
Thank so much Wilma! All hail the drive thru.
Oh my gosh, I so remember wishing everything in the world would come in a drive-thru when my oldest was a baby. She pretty much would NOT sleep in a crib, so the car was my only piece. I remember dreaming up drive-thru businesses that I could start and get fabulously rich. Even now that I don’t have a baby, I still love a good drive-thru. Any businesses out there listening??
Seana Turner recently posted..The Comparison Trap
LOL it’s such an untapped market!!
Really nice post. Being a parent is hard but also rewarding. I totally agree with everything you wrote. One of my friends once said that she kinda hated her life when her kids were little but she loves them to death and they have a great family. It’s nice that you can share and let others feel a little better about being a mom. Found you from SITS day. Hope you have a great one.
Patti recently posted..Curb Appeal – Garden on the Other Side of the Walk
Thanks Patti – such a nice thing to say. Sometimes blogging just feels like venting but it’s great to think you can actually help others feel less alone. I know that’s how I feel when I read other people’s blogs.
Great post! I agree that having kids can really change a person. It is a humbling experience – makes one more tolerable to things they could not deal with before. You have a beautiful blog. Happy to have found you through SITS. Enjoy your day!
Thank you so much Yvonne – glad you found me. It is humbling in a really positive way – for instance, NEVER again would I give parents the stink eye for having a crying baby on an airplane now that I’ve been there.
Hysterical & you nailed it on the head! Thanks for sharing your adventure & hope you made it on your vacation!!
Thanks! The vacation is happening in July…cannot wait!
When you have a little one simplicity is key!
Susie (The Esthetic recently posted..How Eyelash Growth Serums Work Their Magic
That’s for sure. Thanks for stopping by!
So funny! The best number is the Granny panties!
Seriously, I don’t think I’ve worn a thong since I had a baby…3 years ago. Granny panties forever!
Best parenting list ever. We also use the drive through because we just spent 20 minutes overcoming crying and full body thrashing to get the toddler in the carseat, so there is no way we are unbuckling that thing. Ever.
Katherine recently posted..A Bad Case of Wanderlust
Right? Never understood why more businesses don’t exploit the plight of baby and toddler moms by offering more drive thrus!
Hil. Ari. Ous. It is so true – all of ’em. My childless friends call me “old” and “boring,” but I like to say I’m like a fine wine…I get better with age and I taste the best when I get to rest in a cool, dark place. Meaning my bed. At 8PM. On a Saturday night. *le sigh*
Jen recently posted..Time Management from a Dummy
LOL I am stealing that line, esp the part about resting in a cool dark place! Coming your way to learn about time management…dummy here too.
Thank you for this – I had a smile plastered on my face throughout the reading of your list. For the longest time, I figured I would never be THAT mom that has to scold her child in public. Yeah, there goes that ideal.
Thanks Yvonne. If we can’t laugh about it, life would be way too stressful.