Parenting is a journey. Every step of the way you learn something new. Over the 3+ years of being a parent myself, I've had a lot of time to reflect on just what it means to raise a child. Here's a look at four lessons I've learned. Kerry Karl is an entrepreneur, science fan, and recent mommy based out of Daytona Beach, FL.

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K E R R Y K A R L
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2. It’s crazy to think about, but I’ve now
been a parent for nearly 3 years!
It seems like yesterday that Emmy
was taking her first steps. Over
that time I’ve experienced my fair
share of struggles, frustrations,
miracles, and of course perfectly
proud parent moments. I know my
husband has, as well. Needless to
say, it’s definitely been a journey.
Here are four lessons I’ve learned
throughout it.

3. Be Grateful
Being a parent is such a wonderful gift. You get
to take care of this little person. You are the
world to them and they soon become the world
to you. In my case, I get to look at Emily and
think “oh my god! this beautiful girl came from
me!” Even if you’re not the birth parent of your
child you get to still share the same sense of “oh
my god! this beautiful child is more or less
growing because of me!”

4. It’s such a privilege to be able to take care of
another being that trusts you so completely,
and to learn along side it. It’s a rare and
beautiful thing.

5. Be Patient
Ever since I was little I’ve been told that
patience is a virtue. I’ve since gone on to several
financial endeavors, have launched my own
company, have found a wonderful partner and
I’m now happily married, and through all of
that, never has patience been more of a virtue
than during my time as a parent.

6. It’s tough, because on the one hand, you want your
child to be a grown adult and to be self-sufficient, yet
on the other hand you enjoy caring for her and you
still want to continue doing so. Which leads to my
next point…

7. Whenever I find myself frustrated with Emmy, I
take a second to breathe and enjoy what I have
in all of its ephemeral glory. Enjoy your kid
when she’s making messes as a baby, enjoy her
constant barrage of questions when she
becomes a toddler, enjoy her angstiness when
she becomes a teen. Your child growing up only
happens once (assuming a linear theory of
time).
Be Present

8. It’s such a privilege to be able to take care of
another being that trusts you so completely,
and to learn along side it. It’s a rare and
beautiful thing.

9. Just Be
Along the lines of being present. It’s easy to get
bogged down in all of the parenting advice
books, blogs, podcasts, etc. out there. Don’t get
me wrong: it’s great to know that I’m part of a
larger parenting community. It’s good to know
that there are people I can connect with if I’m
going through a particularly rough spot. But
there is such a thing as too much information.

10. Rather than constantly defer to advice from
others, I’ve found it deeply rewarding to take
time to learn from my own activities. Taking
note, for instance, of when I’m not being
patient, present, or grateful.

11. Over the near 3 years of being a mother to Emmy, I’ve
learned a lot. My husband definitely deserves his fair share
of thanks. He’s been a great father and has taught me a lot.
This is not to say that I’m done learning. I know I still have a
long way to go. Constantly discovering new ways of looking
at your child and in the turn the world is one of the wonders
of being a parent.

12. KerryKarl.net
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