11 Ways Being a Parent Is Like Being Back in College

Ahhh, college. Four magical years filled with fun that you'd love to revisit. Luckily there is a way to relive your glory days without having to take out more student loans-- just become a parent. Because in a lot of ways, having a baby is like starting your freshman year all over again.

1. No. Sleep.

You complained to your RA and mom all of freshman year about roommate's bad habit of keeping company in the room all night long, but now that you're a mom you realize her antics were great training for learning how to function on less than three hours sleep. You really should look her up on Facebook to say thank you.

2. You spent a lot of time cleaning up bodily fluids.

That mixer with ZBK where you first tried tequila and your daughter's stomach flu have far too much in common.

3. Suddenly you're good at multi-tasking (or should be anyway).

Parents and college kids both have a million things on their to-do lists, but sadly only one of us can grab a drink with friends without securing a babysitter.

4. You meet a ton of new people.

College was eye-opening in that you were exposed to people with viewpoints widely different from your own. Parenting message boards are the same way-- from free-range parents to attachment parents and everywhere in between you'll come across folks who do approach the same issue from very different directions.

More at thestir.cafemom.com.