Throughout our lives, our parents give us so much, from before we were born, to our childhood and adulthood. We don’t understand the magnitude of their sacrifices until we become parents ourselves. Let’s make sure to acknowledge all the things our parents have done for us so we don’t wait until it’s too late. Here are 10 things parents forgo for their children’s benefit. So, be sure to thank your mom and dad for all they have done for you.
Parents often put their own needs and wants aside in order to provide a better life for their kids. Here are 10 of the most common things that parents secretly sacrifice to make their children’s lives better.
Actions Parents Take Behind the Scenes to Create a Brighter Future for Their Children
The other day, I encountered an inspiring quote: “Appreciate your parents. You never know what sacrifices they went through for you.” It really got me thinking about the sacrifices we make for our children, which made me recognize that our own parents also gave up a lot for us. From minor sacrifices to massive alterations in life, here are the top 10 things that parents surrender for the purpose of providing a better life for their kids.
It is important to be grateful for the efforts of your parents. You may not realize it, but they have gone through a lot to give you a good life.
1. Resting
Getting a good night’s rest is essential for overall health and wellbeing. Sleep can help to restore the body’s energy and alertness levels, while also helping to improve cognitive functioning. It’s important to establish a regular sleep schedule and to stick to it in order to get the most out of our rest.
It is a well-known fact that lack of sleep is a standard occurrence among new parents. A survey conducted recently highlighted that the average amount of sleep lost each night is two to three hours (from the pre-baby average of eight hours).
It is a fact that the lack of sleep for parents of young children doesn’t end when their babies start sleeping through the night. It is an issue that carries on until their children are grown up and even beyond that. Despite not being as extreme as it is in the first year, parents of little kids still lose 6-9 hours a week, which is similar to a complete night’s sleep.
We alternate who stays up all night to make sure our children don’t escape their “big kid bed”. Our anxiety keeps us from sleeping the night before their first day of kindergarten. If they choose to be Elsa instead of Anna for Halloween, we spend the night creating a costume. The examples of sleepless nights due to our children are countless.
“Do children not comprehend that it’s not their nap, but rather ours?” -Alyson Hannigan
2. A sense of serenity
Peace of mind can be achieved by having a sense of serenity.
It is normal to experience anxieties at times, however, when you don’t have children, you have the opportunity to get away from the worries for a bit. Once you have fulfilled your obligations, you can just let go and take a break, allowing your anxieties to vanish, even if only momentarily.
When your kids arrive, it is inevitable that you will never experience complete tranquility again. Even when you feel the most relaxed, the thought “What if….?” will linger in the back of your head, denying you peace of mind.
Studies have not been done to determine the exact amount of time parents spend worrying, however, a survey did reveal that the average is 37 hours per week. This amount of time spent worrying is the equivalent of a full-time job.
“The affection of a parent is a combination of strong dedication, selflessness, and hurt; It is perpetual and altruistic, and will stay the same no matter what.”
3. A dependable agenda
Once our children arrive in this world (sometimes before and sometimes after their expected due date), our orderly timetables are effectively thrown out. Even the most detailed family calendars cannot prepare us for the unpredictability of temper tantrums, illnesses, and the never-ending search for our shoes.
It is unfortunate that many employers are aware that parents prioritize their children over work, and in many states, this type of discrimination is not even illegal. Thus, an unpredictable schedule can lead to more than just an unstructured lifestyle, it can even cost someone their job.
It is an undeniable fact that parenting is one of the most difficult tasks that any of us have ever faced. This is something Laura Markham has also acknowledged as she stated that looking after our children to the best of our abilities is an incredibly hard job.
4. The capacity to act without preparation
It might seem like we parents are wild and carefree when we spontaneously plan weekend trips or fun outings for our kids. But we know that it comes at a cost – having to give up the opportunity to do things on our own terms or go to last-minute gatherings.
Our folks never grumbled about forfeiting their own capacity for randomness. They never made us feel remorseful due to the fact they had to decline an opportunity to take a cruise with friends or miss out on the film they wanted to watch on its first night in order to take us to see the most recent Disney movie instead. They simply sacrificially relinquished their own autonomy for us.
No matter how well-thought out your plans are or how organized you are, life still somehow manages to take a spontaneous turn. This is according to Carroll Bryant.
5. Security of Data
Privacy is a top priority for many individuals, and it is essential to ensure the security of their data. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as through encryption, secure storage, and robust access control measures. It is essential to take all necessary steps to protect personal data, both at an individual level and as a company.
As youngsters, the idea of privacy is something that goes completely over their heads. It is only when they reach their teenage years that they start to ask for their own space, despite not providing the same for their parents. We as parents understand the struggle to find moments of peace – even in the bathroom or while taking a shower. We eventually come to terms with the fact that anything we say while they are around will end up being shared with the wrong person at the wrong time.
My friend’s mom has an amusing anecdote! During an appointment, her young brother announced to the physician, “My mother is infatuated with Harrison Ford, and she desires to wed him!” The mom’s face suddenly became bright red! This may be the least embarrassing example of the embarrassing statements our kids make about us.
Being a mom results in a lack of understanding of the word “privacy”.
6. Allotted Periods
We dedicate a large portion of our lives to our children; it’s almost like they are consuming all of our waking moments during the first 18 years of their life. After that, we tend to take a bit of our own time, but even then we end up feeling guilty (which is one of the most common reasons why mothers experience guilt). Source
The Bureau of Labor Statistics conducted a study which revealed that parents only spend about an hour a day providing direct care to those aged 18 and under, something which I find quite concerning.
Surveys such as this one can overlook a great deal. Even though the amount of words we may direct to our kids (for instance, helping them tie their shoes or playing on the floor) may not seem like much, we must not forget that we are devoting 37 hours each week to thinking about them. Moreover, being a parent is far more than just engaging with our children physically.
Don’t be ungrateful for the things your parents couldn’t provide. They gave you everything they had. 
7. Companions
Having companions can be just as vital as having family members. Friends provide us with caring, understanding and solace during times of hardship. They can also be a source of joy, entertainment, and adventure. Through shared experiences, we can build a strong bond with our friends that can last a lifetime.
Once you become a parent, it’s difficult to remain in close contact with those who don’t have children. While you make an effort to remain connected, your children’s needs must always take precedence. This can lead to cancelled plans often, which can cause your childless friends to stop asking you out. You understand this and accept it, recognizing that your lives have moved in different directions.
Time passes quickly and you find yourself sending holiday cards to a person who was once your “best friend for life”. Your social network is now composed of the parents of other children’s buddies. It may not seem like a particularly big loss, but it can be painful to comprehend that you have drifted away from people you used to be close with.
8. Desires
The eighth point in the list is the expression of wishes, hopes, and aspirations.
Parents routinely place the requirements of their kids ahead of their own. The Maslow hierarchy of needs simply does not apply, as they abide by a unique pyramid structure. This structure is composed of the child’s needs being at the top, followed by the parent’s basic life-sustaining needs, the child’s wants, the parent’s “important but can still live without them” needs, and lastly the parent’s wants.
When we have a bit of extra money, we tend to use it to get something our children would appreciate instead. This isn’t because we are pampering them, just that our priorities have changed. We would rather watch their joyful reactions when we present them with the newest Squishee than buy a pair of shoes that we don’t need.
“Motherhood is far from easy and often times, we give up things everyday in order to ensure we are doing our best as a mom.”
9. Professional goals
My ambition is to pursue a career that I am passionate about and can help me reach my goals. I want to find a job that allows me to grow and develop while at the same time having an impact on the world.
The current climate has made it possible to have both children and a fulfilling career, yes. Nevertheless, many parents (both mother and father) opt for the more secure occupation rather than pursue an uncertain fantasy.
Dreaming of a life of exploration as an archaeologist may be attractive to you, but your children need stability and a sense of place to call their own. For that reason, you decide to go with the path that ensures a secure future for your family, even if it’s not the one you would have preferred.
10. Places of Comfort
Stepping out of our comfort zones can be a daunting task. However, it is an essential part of growth and development. Leaving what we know and understand can be frightening, yet it can also open up new possibilities for us. Expanding our comfort zone can lead to new experiences and opportunities.
Putting it in a nutshell, when we become parents, the limits of our “comfort zones” are drastically changed. A person who is anxious and avoids conflicts might be the one to speak out when their offspring is wronged, as they are the one that the child is expecting to take action.
There is no other option but to go far away from the comfort zone and fight for those who have anxiety. It may not seem like much to some, but to those who have it, it can be the most difficult task.
It is important to remember that our parents are growing older, even though we ourselves are in the process of maturing. An anonymous person once said, “Love your parents – it is easy to become so focused on our own growth that we forget about theirs.”
Stop taking your parents for granted since they have done the same amount of sacrifices for you.
It’s a common thing for parents to make secret sacrifices for their children, and your parents were no different. Similar to how our kids may not realize what we do for them, our parents likely felt unacknowledged as well. Nevertheless, they kept going and did their best for us, day in and day out, because they felt we were worth it.
If your parents are still living, make sure to take full advantage of the time you have with them. Reach out and express your gratitude, plan a meal out, or arrange a visit home. Don’t procrastinate, or you will be sorry.
Take the time to show your parents how much you love and appreciate them. You won’t understand the value of their presence until they are no longer occupying their chair.
To bring this idea full circle, here is an insightful quote: “Respect your parents and show them compassion. You will only realize their worth when they are no longer there.”
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings