One thing I learned from being a first time parent is that you really can’t prepare much. I read every parenting book I could get my hands on, and every time I

One thing I learned from being a first time parent is that you really can’t prepare much. I read every parenting book I could get my hands on, and every time I tried a technique from them to, say, get my son to sleep, or calm him when he was crying, didn’t work. I felt pretty helpless for awhile, and then realized my gut instincts worked more often, and I had to get to know my son as a person and discover what worked for him. So I think the best way to prepare for being a parent is to 1. get ready to feel more love for this tiny human than you ever thought possible. 2. prepare financially. 3. gather your supplies (diapers, changing table, etc.) 4. have strategies in place to deal with lack of sleep. 5. have strategies in place to deal with stress and anxiety. 6. decide how you will support your partner. How will you make them feel important when the baby becomes your whole world? 7. breathe. It’ll be okay. It’s easier than you think, and you know more than you think. Trust your instincts.