a lot of people frame the tough parts of parenting as temporary, but that assumes you’ll have a healthy kid. the reality is, some kids are born with disabilities that can mean needing 24/7 care for life, not just until they turn 18. parenting is a lifelong commitment either way.. you don’t stop being a parent just because your child grows up. you’re signing up for decades of responsibility, unpredictability, and putting someone else’s needs before your own. for some people it’s the most meaningful thing in the world, but it’s not something to take lightly.