Is It What You Expected?

(Inspired by this wonderful post.)

I expected parenting to require a lot of sacrifice. I didn't expect how easily I began putting his needs before my own.

I expected that an infant/toddler would require a lot of attention. I didn't expect to go entire days without crossing anything off my "to do" list.

I expected to want continued relationship with my son's birthparents for his sake. I didn't expect to want it for my own sake, or to care about them as deeply as I do.

I didn't expect how deeply the words "my child" would affect me when they finally became reality.