diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6784844..7977b3f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@ The result is a reactive UI on property changes.
 1. [Usage](#usage)
 1. [Quick Start Example](#quick-start-example) 😉
 1. [Life-Cycle Hooks](#life-cycle-hooks)
-    1. [`onInit`](#oninit) - the component is connected to the DOM
-    1. [`onChanges`](#onchanges) - an attribute value changed
+    1. [`onInit`](#oninit) - the component is connected to the DOM, before view is initialized
+    1. [`afterViewInit`](#afterviewinit) - after the view is first initialized
+    1. [`onChanges`](#onchanges) - every time an attribute value changes
 
 ## Vanilla JS import
 Import using [unpkg](https://unpkg.com/web-component-base) in your component. We will use this in the rest of our [usage examples](#usage).
@@ -128,7 +129,7 @@ Here is an example of using a custom element in a single .html file:
 Define behavior when certain events in the component's life cycle is triggered by providing hook methods
 
 ### onInit()
-- gets triggered when the component is connected to the DOM
+- triggered when the component is connected to the DOM
 - best for setting up the component
 
 ```js
@@ -146,8 +147,25 @@ class ClickableText extends WebComponent {
 }
 ```
 
+### afterViewInit()
+- triggered after the view is first initialized
+
+```js
+class ClickableText extends WebComponent {
+  // gets called when the component's innerHTML is first filled
+  afterViewInit() {
+    const footer = this.querySelector('footer');
+    // do stuff to footer after view is initialized
+  }
+
+  get template() {
+    return `<footer>Awesome site &copy; 2023</footer>`;
+  }
+}
+```
+
 ### onChanges()
-- gets triggered when an attribute value changed
+- triggered when an attribute value changed
 
 ```js
 import WebComponent from "https://unpkg.com/web-component-base";
diff --git a/WebComponent.mjs b/WebComponent.mjs
index 770cdf5..96dfe85 100644
--- a/WebComponent.mjs
+++ b/WebComponent.mjs
@@ -17,26 +17,38 @@ export class WebComponent extends HTMLElement {
     return this.properties;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * triggered after view is initialized
+   */
+  afterViewInit() {}
+
   /**
    * triggered when the component is connected to the DOM
    */
   onInit() {}
 
   /**
-   * triggered when an attribute value changed
+   * @template {{'previousValue': any, 'currentValue': any}} SimpleChange
+   * @param {Record<string, SimpleChange>} changes
    */
-  onChanges({ property, previousValue, currentValue }) {}
+  onChanges(changes) {}
 
   connectedCallback() {
-    this.render();
     this.onInit();
+    this.render();
+    this.afterViewInit();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * @param {string} property
+   * @param {any} previousValue
+   * @param {any} currentValue
+   */
   attributeChangedCallback(property, previousValue, currentValue) {
     if (previousValue !== currentValue) {
       this[property] = currentValue;
-      this.onChanges({ property, previousValue, currentValue });
       this.render();
+      this.onChanges({ [property]: { previousValue, currentValue } });
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/demo/HelloWorld.mjs b/demo/HelloWorld.mjs
index 5e055eb..e927373 100644
--- a/demo/HelloWorld.mjs
+++ b/demo/HelloWorld.mjs
@@ -7,13 +7,26 @@ export class HelloWorld extends WebComponent {
 
   static properties = ["name", "emotion"];
 
-  onChanges({ property, previousValue, currentValue }) {
-    console.log(">>> changed", { property, previousValue, currentValue });
+  onInit() {
+    console.log("onInit", this.querySelector("h1"));
+  }
+
+  afterViewInit() {
+    console.log("afterViewInit", this.querySelector("h1"));
+  }
+
+  onChanges(changes) {
+    Object.keys(changes).forEach((name) => {
+      console.log(
+        `${name} changed from ${changes[name].previousValue} to ${changes[name].currentValue}`
+      );
+    });
   }
 
   get template() {
-    return `
-        <h1>Hello ${this.name}${this.emotion === "sad" ? ". 😭" : "! 🙌"}</h1>`;
+    return `<h1>Hello ${this.name}${
+      this.emotion === "sad" ? ". 😭" : "! 🙌"
+    }</h1>`;
   }
 }