5 Toughest Things Parents Have To Deal With
Being a parent is no walk in the park. Think about it... You’re taking care of another human being. Looking after yourself comes with its challenges so imagine how hard it is for those who are also responsible for a little version of themselves!
I think it’s safe to say that parents go through a lot of heartache and tears when raising a kid. While the birth of a child is exciting, parents need to be prepared that their life is never going to be the same.
Here are 5 of the toughest things that parents have to deal with when having a kid:
Lack of sleep
This is a big one. Having a kid means your days of sleeping in until 10 am are long over. If you have a newborn, you know that it is next to impossible to get a full 6 hours of sleep. That’s just not happening. When that baby starts crying, you're up.
No more “me” time
The world no longer revolves around you… Your world revolves around your kid, which means that you have to adjust your schedule to fit theirs. Every single minute of the day is spent looking after your kid and making sure he/she doesn’t hurt themselves or making sure that they don’t re-design your living room with a permanent marker.
Tantrums
For the most part, kids throw tantrums. If your child isn’t one of them, consider yourself lucky. For the unlucky ones who have to deal with their kids throwing a fit in the middle of the grocery store, just remember that you’re not the only one.
Saying No
Coming to terms with the fact that you can’t give your child everything he/she wants can be difficult at first. Saying no can seem almost cruel and a lot of parents struggle with the word. Will my kid hate me forever? Will he/she still love me if I tell them no?
Bills, Bills, and More Bills
Let’s be real here,having a kid is expensive and it only gets better once your child is out of the house. In the meantime, you need to save for school, extracurricular activities, clothing, food, medical expenses and all the rest.
Here’s the good news, though: having a child means you get quite a few tax breaks for your family. When you have a child, you need to modify the way that you file your taxes because all of a sudden you have more expenses. Luckily, the Canada Revenue Agency offers a number of deductions and credits on your tax return!
This might sound a little overwhelming at first since taxes are already such a pain to begin with, but modifying your tax situation can be simple with tools such as TurboTax. As Canada’s #1 Tax Software of the year, TurboTax is an easy-to-use tool that makes it simple to file your taxes online. For individuals and families who need help finding all the credits and deductions they qualify for, TurboTax recommends their Standard software option.
Although being a parent does have its challenges, it’s important to remember that having a kid is an exciting time! While there will be a lot of crying, embarrassing tantrums, and zero sleep, it's all worth it. Plus, you can take comfort in the fact that you can find ways to get a little extra cash to enjoy with your new family. Now that's not so tough, is it?