〜てはじめて

失(うしな)ってはじめて、大切(たいせつ)さが分(わ)かりました。

Ushinatte hajimete, taisetsusa ga wakarimashita.

Only after losing it did I understand its worth.

てはじめて is only after going through it, and what precedes is often the cost

一(いち)人(にん)で暮(く)らしてはじめて、親(おや)のありがたみを知(し)った。

Hitori de kurashite hajimete, oya no arigatami o shitta.

It was living alone that taught me what my parents did.

Common for the realisation that growing up brings

後(うし)ろには気(き)づきを表(あらわ)す動詞(どうし)が来(き)ます。

Ushiro ni wa kizuki o arawasu dōshi ga kimasu.

A verb of realisation follows.

分かる, 知る and 気づく account for nearly all of them