As we turned the calendar to 2014 it dawned on me that hubby and I have been parenting for a decade now.  Our first just turned 10 at the end of December, and our youngest is now sharing the fact that he is FOUR with everyone he meets.

And in that decade of parenting, that 10 years of raising kids, and learning how to work together as “parental units” hubby and I have learned, and experienced a lot.

We brought our first daughter home to East Vancouver. A cozy (aka tiny) 2 bedroom heritage house, on a snug city lot. We learned pretty quick that being within walking distance of the shops was awesome with a baby, but our stroller needed to be able to carry a haul of groceries and also be light enough to jump curbs and carry up the steps. There was no “parking our ride” on the front porch in this neighbourhood due to frequent thefts.

We learned with baby #1 that we should purchase good quality, long lasting items. . . especially since we did plan on having more than one kid!  That spending a little extra now would make a huge difference later.

When baby #2 came along and we now had a newborn and a toddler, and we experienced the benefit of having all those high quality baby items.  Setting up the crib again (and having cleverly kept the instructions) getting the high chair out of storage (and having it still in amazing condition) and being able to have a stroller and car seat ready and waiting for use.

And then we upgraded our infant purchases to toddler ones.

And learning lessons again. Having two kids now, and a new home (and bigger mortgage) we tried to cut some corners. As our toddler sat in her new carseat and complained of sore legs, and her feet falling asleep we realized we had forgotten to take our own advice.   Back to Sears to upgrade the seat (which ended up being her fave spot, and lasted us until expiry) and pick up a double stroller so we could keep active with two little ones!

With baby #3, a boy this time, we were thrilled that we had chosen neutral colours for our girls items!  We still needed a few upgrades (a lighter stroller since we were no longer walking for groceries) but knew to choose quality items that would stand the test of time.

Hubby and I approached our parenting just as we do everything else in our life.  We logic and planning.  We never skimped on safety items, and always chose items that would work with any gender, and last through the years.

And if you are like us and want to purchase quality items, take advantage of the Sears Baby Days running from January 17-30th. These means 15% off almost everything in the Baby’s Room, including furniture, strollers and all the gear you need! Click to check out the deals!  We had our baby gear last us through the decade, and it was well worth our wise investment.

I see how we have grown as parents through a decade with our kids. How our children have developed, and how my hubby and I have learned to sit back and let our kids teach US. Parenting isn’t always about doing it the right way, it is about finding the right way to do it.

I look back on us as first time parents (and even 2nd time parents) and feel blessed that we had this decade of experience with our kids. Thankful that our minds were open enough to learn with them, and to have made some good decisions along the way!

And to all you new parents out there, a piece of advice. Choose wisely. Make things (moments, products, time) last, and spend time enjoying the process. Soon your baby moon, and first decade will be over as well. Snuggle them while you can, and enjoy the quiet. . . because yes, it IS quiet right now!

Oh, and you WILL sleep again. I promise.