5 Things to Consider as a New Parent

My youngest child is turning 12 years old this week and while I feel done having kids it does make me sad to know we are done. My oldest is 16 and it is crazy to think that in just two years he could be out of the house. Thinking back to when I first became a mom makes me think of what I should have paid more attention to.

Here are 5 things to consider as a new parent:

Think about where you want to live. Once your child gets into kindergarten you are going to want to be settled if possible so your child can start creating lifelong friends and a community. It is also hard to move with a toddler which I did while also pregnant with our second!

Talk to your partner about what your parenting style will be. We all grew up different and it is important to set up what each of your roles will be. You definitely have time to decide but its never too early to start the conversation.

Think about cheap term life insurance. Having a family means providing for others and while we all never expect something bad to happen, we all will die eventually.

Other than life insurance, you also want to make sure your health insurance is good for a growing family. We were lucky to have an HMO at the time which meant it was super cheap for the delivery and appointments but then I needed referrals for specialists which was not easy with my son having a heart condition.

Finally, you should start planning for your retirement and a college account for your kids. It is never too early to start saving. I feel like by the time you start having kids you are obviously maturing and ready to think about your future and now your childs.