Things change with a baby.

• The concept of planning has a whole new meaning. With 2 extreme scenarios, either too much or none (thinking there is no point).
• We tend to advice prospective parents or other parents based on our experience or learnings. Some times one can get so compulsive, and we have to learn to SHUT UP. If people need advice, they would ask you.
• Managing your own time and using it well to balance it across - home, baby, work, self time, spouse time, others. One can never do it well and so constantly saying to yourself - this is the best i can do. This can help avoid guilt to some extent.
• Real time adventure - situations come up and one needs to deal with them real time. You have forgotten the diapers at home and the baby has done the big job, all the food you had carried is over and the baby is still hungry, you have just started to eat in a fancy restaurant and the baby wakes up, the movie is reaching its climax and you get a call from home that the baby is crying inconsolably... hmmm i can go on and on.
• You realize the value of your parents and all that they have done for you.
• The relationship with your spouse - maybe an opportunity to re set expectations.
• Difficulty in dealing with post natal health issues and constantly looking for a quick fix solution. Is there there such a thing ?

In all an interesting phase, one would not exchange it for anything else in the world !