feedback
Never Say Never
my husband and I. We used to have struc- tured bedtime, nap times, bath times, meal times. But he started daycare at the end of January, and after that, we had to make it more fluid. It works for him, and he is happier with a less structured schedule. Sometimes you think one thing, and then you know what? That’s not it.” -Danielle C. “Screentime. Before I had kids, I told myself I would not do any screen time. But now I have kids, and they have screen time.” -Kinsley H. “I would say my parenting ideas surrounding food and drinks has changed. I thought we would be more rigid, but we are way more relaxed around things like treats and soda.” -Justin H. “I always hated character clothing. I thought it was tacky, gaudy, and cheap-looking. Old me would hate our kids’ wardrobes, but me now? I love that my kids express their inter- ests through what they wear. And when I am at the store and see a KPop Demon Hunters shirt, I buy it for my daughter because it makes her so happy!” -Maggie R. “When I didn’t have kids yet, I worked in an office where parents would come around and ask people to donate to their kids’ clubs or sports teams. I told myself I would never do that, because, at that time, I couldn’t really afford it. But now, when I donate to other people’s kids, I feel less guilty asking those people to donate to mine.” -David L. “For me, it was spending lots of money on birthday parties. I thought it was such a waste for little babies to have big parties because it’s not like they would remember it. Then I had a baby, and yes, the party is definitely for the parents when the baby turns one all the way through age five even. Hahaha!” -Meredith L. “There’s almost too many to list. Basically everything I thought I was going to do as a Dad has been wrong, or I do it differently. I think you can try to be prepared, but it’s a role where you have to be okay pivoting and adapting. Especially when you have more than one kid, because what worked for one might not work for the other one. The whole thing is really just learning and making it up
BY AMANDA CIANI | PHOTO BY MAGNIFIC.COM
“When I have kids, I will…” is an utterance many parents have said, only to look back on it later with their heads thrown back in laughter. Because it is very easy to have ideas about parenting! However, once baby arrives, so does reality. It’s almost spooky to think about how we really thought we were experts on a situation we hadn’t even experienced yet, right?! Thankfully, we aren’t alone. Feeling like a parenting know-it-all before having kids is pretty much a universal experience. SO WE ASKED AND YOU ANSWERED: Before you became a parent, what was something you felt strongly about that changed drastically once you had kids?
-Becca K.
“Pre-parenting, I got the ick from the cliche of the mom with a bunch of kids having a messy van. I thought, ‘Seriously… how hard is it to just not be gross?!’Then I had three sons. They track in dust, grass and specks of Astro- Turf from various sports-ball fields. So much so that I joke I could make our own field from everything they track in. I also found a decayed apple core once, a memento from a quick tournament snack, eaten long ago. Even though I clean my van out weekly now, I am the ick that I once had.” —Amanda C., Associate Editor, Cincinnati Family Magazine “I remember being a teenager at Kings Island and laughing with my friends at a parent who had a kid on a leash. Then the Lord gave me a child who runs away from us. I’d say I got what I deserved, honestly. I didn’t think I’d be the dad walking with a kid on a leash, but here we are.” -Craig O. “I used to think parents who made their kids special meals were spoiling their kids before I had a very picky child of my own. I only give her a few options as alternative meals. And if she had to choose not eating or eating cer- tain meals I cook, she would starve. We are on a waitlist for a feeding clinic, so she definitely isn’t just spoiled.”
“I didn’t think I would, but I let them run the house. I really do. They climb on the walls. They sit on the tables. We have fun. We have
a lot of fun.” -Amber G.
“I told them they would never have a tablet, but when it was time to travel, I caved. So we have airport tablets. They don’t have it for anything else, but they do have airport tablets.” -Lisette L. “I’ve always been told to let the kids kind of adapt to your lifestyle. I’m the opposite. My entire day is filled with their activities, and I absolutely love it.” -Allison F. “Before I had kids, I said I would never let my future sons play football because it is just too dangerous. And while I made good on that, it’s only because they chose dangerous sports that I never considered. My son plays ice hockey, and my daughter is starting lacrosse soon.” -Megan F.
as you go.” -Simon P.
“My baby is 18 months now, and we’ve pro- gressed into being more lenient as parents,
8 OCTOBER 2026 | CINCINNATIFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online