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Important Milestones In Your Child’s Life

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Being a parent is different for everyone. The individual circumstances that affect each of our lives help to magnify these differences. You can argue that a 33 year old would have a significantly different experience raising a child to that of a 20 year old. But there are a few constants that all parents can attest to. These little moments in seeing our children grow up are what make the experience so special. There will be good days and bad days, but enjoying these milestones make that bad seem all the more worthwhile.

First Words

The exact moment can be a little tricky to define, as babies make all manner of noises and sounds from the moment they are born. But thanks to encouragement and social interactions with the parents, simple words like ‘mama’ and ‘dada’ can come as early as 6 months old. It’s a proud moment when you hear your child forming words for the first time.

First Steps

The balance part comes a little later, but babies are able to crawl around under their own steam pretty early on. By the time they’re 9 months old, you’re likely to see them pulling themselves up on furniture and being able to balance on their own. Some healthy children are as old as a year and a half before they take their first steps. It all depends on the child.

Starting School

We all have a photo somewhere in our homes of us proudly standing in front of a school gate in a brand new uniform, ready to face the world. It is a big moment for any parent, because it’s something that they’re not heavily involved with. Watching them run into the school building after the bell goes is a heart wrenching moment as they grow up so fast!

School Dances/Plays

A great moment for any parent to be involved in is seeing how their child has independently grown their own social network with friends and school mates. Whether it’s going to the school nativity at Christmas time or dropping them off for an end of year dance, seeing how their personality has developed into their peer group is a great thing to watch develop.

Finishing High-School/Starting College

It seems like a big jump to get to this point in your child’s life, but it comes around a lot quicker than you might expect. Being there to help with studying and exam stress is a vital part of being a parent, and the pay-off of seeing them pass school exams and get into college or university is truly fulfilling. Just be prepared for the empty nest syndrome that comes once they move out to study!

Getting Married

When it comes to seeing your child find a partner of their own, you might think that your job as a parent is coming to a close, but organising a wedding will show you that it’s anything but! Whether you’re giving them advice on the financial side of the wedding, or giving speeches at the reception, you can be assured that you’ll still be a big part of their lives.

Becoming A Grandparent

What better way to complete the cycle of parenthood by picking it up again as a grandparent. A lot of people will attest to preferring their lives as grandparents as it doesn’t involve all the nitty gritty, but helping your own kid navigate the world of parenthood is a precious thing indeed.

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