Parenting Self-Expansion: Parenthood as a Transformative and Rewarding Journey

Parenthood is a transformative and fulfilling journey, yet research often emphasizes its hardships over its potential for growth. We introduce parenting self-expansion—novel experiences with one’s child that broaden and are incorporated into a parent’s sense of self. In Study 1, first-time parents ( N = 430) completed four surveys across their postpartum year. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed six themes of self-expansion: child curiosity/development, familial love, parenting challenges, personal growth, broadened priorities, and renewed worldviews. Growth curve analyses showed that self-expansion was linked to more positive trajectories of personal and relational well-being longitudinally. In Study 2, results from a 10-day daily diary ( N = 378) indicated that parenting self-expansion was associated with greater personal and relational well-being in both positive and negative contexts. Results held when accounting for parental fatigue, child-care difficulty, and child temperament. Collectively, we find that, amid the joy and hardship, parenting self-expansion is a transformative pathway through which parenting may be rewarding.