Being a parent is difficult work that changes one's life in unexpected ways. While pregnant, new parents do not truly understand how challenging parenthood will be, such as experiencing sleepless weeks with a newborn. There is no way to prepare for the immense love felt for one's child, though it takes trial and error to balance this love with the responsibilities of parenting. It is important to learn from others' advice but apply what works best for each family, finding pride in accomplishments even while alone. Comparisons to other parents can cause stress, so focus on believing what is right and doable for one's own child and lifestyle.

2. Being a parent is hard work. It will change your life in ways that you cannot
possibly imagine. I think people probably said this to me while I was
pregnant and I am pretty sure that I couldn't hear them over the giggles
(soltar risitas) and coo's that I was day dreaming about in my head.
In fact, I remember, during my son's first few sleepless weeks home from
the hospital, thinking "Why didn't anyone tell us it would be like this, that it
would be this hard?" and realizing that people probably had, but we just
didn't understand.
As it turns out, there really is no fair warning for what parenting is like. In all
fairness, though, there is also no warning for the amount of love you can
feel for one tiny person. I never expected to love my child this much. I
expected and hoped that one day
I would fall in love and be loved back by someone who I would then marry,
but I never knew that I could love a child in such a deep and primal way. I
never expected to feel that kind of strong and unconditional love. But it is
hard work.
The love comes easily but all the rest takes a lot of trial and error. Take
advice from anyone who is willing (dispuesto)to give it, but sift (tamizar,
filtrar) through it and decide what works for you and for your family. Take
help whenever (cada vez que) you can get it, but take pride (orgullo,
enorgullecerse)in the times you do things without help.
I distinctly (claramente) remember the sense of accomplishment
(realización) I felt when I gave my newborn (recien nacido) son a bath for
the first time by myself! Be careful in comparing yourself with other parents.
It can be helpful to have role models and sounding boards, but you can
also make yourself crazy by striving (esforzarse) to follow the same
routines and schedules only to realize they are not a good match (modelo)
for your child or your lifestyle.
Ignore criticism (critica) and skeptic remarks as best you can, and don't
play them over and over again in your head. Decide what you believe is
right, what you believe is necessary, and what you know is doable. Keep
that in mind when well-meaning mothers in the baby food aisle (pasillo) tell
you that you should be making your own baby food or well-intended

3. strangers tell you that your baby is not dressed warmly enough.