• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
GO TO EXPAT LIVING SINGAPORE
GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Expat Living Hong Kong HomepageExpat Living Hong Kong

Moving to Hong Kong and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Hong Kong.

Menu
  • Living In Hong Kong
      • Living Here
      • Where To Live
      • Schools
      • For Guys
        • Traditional festivals in Hong Kong - Dragon Boat FestivalTraditional Festivals & Events in HK
        • 5 Reasons to Use a VPN in HK
        • South Lantau - moving to Hong KongGuide to Pui O Village, South Lantau
        • Money - for article on financial habits and wealth management5 Steps for setting realistic financial goals
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things To Do
      • What’s On/Calendar
      • Competitions & Offers
        • Top beaches in Hong Kong - Stanley BeachTop 35 Best Things To Do In Hong Kong This Weekend
        • Traditional festivals in Hong Kong - Dragon Boat FestivalTraditional Festivals & Events in HK
        • Public swimming pools in Hong Kong - Tung ChungBest public pools for families
        • What to watch this month – Netflix & more!
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Activities & Things To Do
      • Education & Enrichment
      • Health & Wellness
      • Mums & Babies
      • Podcasts
        • Filling the learning gap in the COVID recovery
        • Cambridge education at CDNIS - Students on the summer learning programmeGet a Taste of a Cambridge Education in HK!
        • Bottle-feeding a baby - when is the right time to introduce a bottle?“When can I give a bottle to my baby?”
        • Public swimming pools in Hong Kong - Tung ChungBest public pools for families
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Décor
      • Readers Homes
        • Children's books author Bhakti Mathur in hr home on the Peak Hong KongA writer’s retreat on The Peak
        • Asian furniture and home décor - Altfield swirl vases7 must-have Asian classic pieces
        • Causeway Bay apartment home makeover - Christina Standaloft and partnerSpace-savvy Causeway Bay home makeover
        • Home furniture and décor in Hong Kong - Altfield InteriorsHome news: décor, furniture & more!
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Short Breaks
      • Further Afield
      • Travel News & Offers
        • South Lantau - moving to Hong KongGuide to Pui O Village, South Lantau
        • Mount KinabuluClimbing Mount Kinabalu in Sabah
        • Top beaches in Hong Kong - Stanley BeachTop beaches in Hong Kong
        • Considering moving to Singapore for your next expat post?
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Recipes & Groceries
      • Bars & Restaurants
        • Harbourside Grill5 Dining discoveries in Hong Kong
        • Salted Vanilla Caramel Ice Cream Balls Recipe
        • Baan Thai restaurant in Hong Kong, Thai foodTaste Test: Thai food in Hong Kong
        • Hong Kong People: Meet Amy Elkhoury
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • Best foundationsFab foundations for hot climates
        • Tried and Tested: Lip glosses and lip liners
        • Teenager having a facialWhen is it time for your first facial?
        • Stretch mark treatmentHow to get rid of stretch marks
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Medical & Dental
      • Fitness
      • Wellness
        • Menstrual cupsHave you considered a menstrual cup?
        • 6 stages of life where family medicine matters
        • pregnancy - for web article on common problems in pregnancy and how to relieve symptoms10 common problems in pregnancy & how to help
        • Cup of tea - Tips for taking care of yourself from MindnLifeAre you taking care of yourself?
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
      • Magazine
      • Advertise With Us
        • March-May2022
        • March-May2022
        • March-May 2022 Issue – $36 (Free Shipping)
        • SALE! ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION PRINT & DIGITAL BUNDLE – $128 (USUAL $192.00)
      • View all
    Close

The 5 phases of parenthood

27 December, 2017 by Rated PG Columnist Orla Breeze 3 Min Read

https://expatliving.hk/5-phases-parenthood/

I have a teenager. In fact, I’ve had him for a year now and, I have to say, so far so good. But with another teenager just around the corner and a third only two years after that, I’m having to come to terms with the fact that my parenthood days have taken a significant turn for the better. Or possibly the worse. Let’s just say it’s a turn into something and leave it at that for now.

Mother and son in parenthood photo
How are you coping with the different stages of parenthood?

However, with all new phases comes an opportunity to look back on how it’s been, how far I’ve come and to assess what tricks – if any – I’ve got left up my sleeve. Fellow parents, sit back, relax and take a trip with me through the 5 Phases of Parenthood.

Parenthood Phase One: Newborn Parent

With every firstborn child comes a newborn parent characterised by dog-tired eyes, a permanent look of WTF on its face and sporting Majamas – that good ol’ maternity wear/pyjamas combo. (And yes, I mean the Dads too.) It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was an age of sleeplessness, it was an epoch of tears. Many have been there. Only the brave would return.

Parenthood Phase Two: The Danger Zone

Picture the scene: you’re two years in, your little one is happily eating solids, he’s sleeping like a … well … baby, and most importantly you’ve got your boobs back. (And yes, I mean the Dads too.) You got this! In fact, you got this so much that you inadvertently cross over into the Danger Zone where memories of the first few months are instantaneously wiped from your brain and you end up having another one. D’oh!

Parenthood Phase Three: The Juggler

You’ve hit your Five Year Parentaversary and find yourself in a permanent state of wondering whether or not you’ve fed the the dog. Until you realise that you don’t have a dog, it’s just baby number three hanging out of your legs. Mix that with the other two who are in a constant fight for whatever attention you’ve got left and voila: you’ve reached the Juggling Years! Going for a walk with all three without losing one along the way, crossing a road with more kids than you have hands, and who to put in the naughty corner first are all predicaments you face daily. But who will win? Unfortunately, they decide!

Parenthood Phase Four: Get Smart!

The toddlers have gone, only to be replaced by small-sized people with full-sized personalities. And the questions to go with them. You gotta get smart to get through this stage! Why is the world round? Where do waves come from? And my personal favourite: Mum, who was the first person on the planet? Well, nobody knows that for sure darling. Can’t you Google it? Parents should have their own version of Google. Poogle, maybe?

Parenthood Phase Five: The Golden Years

Now, I know some of you may disagree with me (that’s okay, we’re all friends here) but this phase – the still a teen, not yet an adult phase – is the best of them all. The Golden Years, if you will. And I’m loving it! Interesting chats where they’re doing the teaching, fab senses of humour that make me laugh out loud, and a strong sense of the amazing adults they’ll one day become. Oh, man! Someone pass me a tissue! I’m gonna miss my monkeys when they leave. Sniff!

This article first appeared in the Oct/Nov edition of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue!

Want to read more from Orla Breeze? Find out why she thinks there is a baby conspiracy and asks have you failed the mummy test?

Categories: Kids Mums & Babies Tags: Orla Breeze Parenting Rated PG

Get the latest events, stories and special offers
sent to your inbox.

By signing up, you'll receive our bimonthly newsletters and offers, which you can unsubscribe to anytime.

You May Also Like

Filling the learning gap in the COVID recovery

Cambridge education at CDNIS - Students on the summer learning programme

Get a Taste of a Cambridge Education in HK!

The benefits of being a school leader

Primary Sidebar

  • COMPETITIONS & OFFERS
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Subscribe

© 2022 Expat Living Hong Kong, All Rights Reserved.