Parenthood and sacrifice go hand-in-hand. There’s simply no way around it.
Even if you’re wealthy and can afford all the best maids, private chefs, private tutors and butlers, those expenses still translate as sacrifices.
It takes a considerable amount of responsibility, effort, patience and courage to raise a human being from birth. Just so that they grow up to be functional members of society.
But that’s not the end goal of parenting.
At the end of the day, the only thing that our parents want for us is for us to be happy and healthy, no matter the cost.
Many non-parents may never understand the lengths that parents go through to protect their children.
It’s simply a feeling that can only truly be experienced once they have kids of their own.
Here are just some of the many sacrifices that parents make for their children.
Body
For mums, the first thing that they sacrifice (if they’re having kids the traditional way, i.e. pregnancy) is their bodies.
Pregnancy takes a considerable amount of physical toll on a woman’s body.
Your organs shift around to accommodate the growing baby, and you’re also flooded with all kind of hormones 24/7.
Between the moodswings, morning sickness, sore breasts, constipation, nausea, and frequent urination, you may start to appreciate just how much your own mother went through to have you.
This, of course, pales in comparison to the actual childbirth part.
Some women also experience significant weight gain afterwards which further impacts their health.
A woman’s body is never the same after having a child and that is one of the first sacrifices a mother makes to have children.
That is not to mention those extreme cases where a parent has to literally sacrifice a part of their body, blood or organ to save their child from a life-threatening medical condition.
Money
Probably one of the obvious sacrifices that a parent makes for their child is of the financial kind.
Parents are responsible for supporting their kids from birth till they move out of the house (or in most cases, at the minimum, until they get a stable job).
From the very first pregnancy kit to the down payment on their student accommodation, let’s be honest: kids can be expensive.
And for some parents, that’s the reality before the child is even conceived.
With fertility rates dropping steadily throughout the decades, more and more parents are having trouble having children.
So, the expenses come earlier: the doctor’s appointments, fertility tests, ovulation kits, hormone shots, artificial insemination and dozens of other ways that prospective parents resort to to conceive.
Sometimes, it may end in failure which leads many to adoption.
And while adoption is cheaper (sometimes even free), you still need to sacrifice another commodity that is just as precious as what comes out of your wallet.
Which brings us to the next point.
Time
Raising kids, especially when they’re babies, will take up a considerable amount of your life.
Between feedings and diaper changes, not to mention the 9 months of pregnancy for the mums, you may wonder how our parents did it all.
Time sacrificed for your little ones also means less time for yourself, which means you’re probably living life at hyperspeed to make sure that everything is in order, that he laundry is done, the plates are washed, and that no one leaves the house with an empty stomach.
You learn to squeeze out every last drop from every second you’re given.
And while time slowly trickles back in your direction when your kids are slightly a little bit older, that doesn’t mean you stop sacrificing your time for them.
The dance recitals, storytelling competitions, PTA meetings and sports days will still be there long after their kindergarten days.
And the mark of a good parent is that you’ll be present for all of them.
Sleep
With less time comes less sleep. Especially if you’re a first time parent with a newborn.
The late night feedings will likely mess up your sleep schedule more than anything.
Even by some miracle it doeesn’t, then the stresses of everyday parenting will likely get to you and cause you insomnia.
The sleep thing is probably an inside joke among parents by now.
How you’re probably never getting another good night’s sleep once you have kids. A sort of baptism by fire that every new mum or dad has to go through.
But of course, sleep deprivation is no laughing matter.
Lack of sleep can put a strain not only on your body, but also on your relationships.
Sleep deprived parents are often cranky, moody and exhausted, which can severely impact how they function throughout the day and how they interact with their loved ones and acquaintances.
Thankfully, there are ways to address the issue.
Hobbies
Sometimes, some of us might forget to view parents as being their own person.
By default, they’re either someone’s spouse, mother or father.
But we have to remember that before they got married and/or had kids, they were just normal people with dreams and desires of their own.
You look at your parents’ old photos when they were teens, and saw that they were chess champions and star athletes.
Or that they loved to go on afternoon bicycle rides or go splash around in the swimming pools.
Many parents had to sacrifice the things they love doing to let their kids discover their hobbies and passions.
So, don’t be surprised when your own parents suddenly take up painting classes, or start their own garden when they finally reach their golden years.
There’s a side to your parents that you probably never even knew was there.
Career
On the other end of the spectrum, some mums may sacrifice their careers so they can be stay-at-home mum and make sure the kids are well looked after.
This is especially true if they have a new baby.
Some dads also make that sacrifice, so that their wives don’t have to.
Sacrificing your career goals and expectations are never easy, even if its turning down promotions, or relocating to another branch.
It can be hard-hitting later once their kids are grown and off to college or moving out or starting families of their own.
Some make the courageous decision to re-enter the workforce, an ordeal wrought with challenges.
The Sacrifice of Parenthood
We all eventually sacrifice something for love. It’s just the nature of human relationships.
But the sacrifices we make for our partners pale in comparison to the sacrifices we make for our children.
Scientists will tell you that it’s natural to risk life and limb to make sure your offspring survive.
It’s for the propagation of the species, after all.
Some animals for instance, sacrifice themselves all the time to ensure the survival of their young.
Octopus mums guard her egg sacs for 2 to 3 years without taking a break even once to eat, dying shortly after they hatch.
The desert spider, on the other hand, will let her own babies feast on her body, a fatal process known as matriphagy.
So, in some cases, parenthood can be the last dying act of a living creature.
And for us humans, this can also sometimes be the case.
So, let’s take a moment to remember all the mums who gave their lives during childbirth, because giving up your own life for your kids is truly the greatest sacrifice a parent could ever make.
You’ve all rockstars, mummies and daddies!
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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