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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you have found any unexpected perks that come with becoming a parent?

221 replies

mommabear12 · 01/04/2015 23:15

Was just wondering as I used my default excuse for not attending another tedious fourtieth birthday party "we can't get a babysitter" (haven't even asked!). How on earth did I shirk these things before ds came along?!!

OP posts:
Original poster
mommabear12 · 01/04/2015 23:15

Sorry dd - my autotext keeps changing to DS!

OP posts:
ResurrectAndEatShitChoc · 01/04/2015 23:17

I came to say that you can bullshit about not being able to get a babysitter when you just can't be arsed Grin

MrsEvadneCake · 01/04/2015 23:17

The wonders of baby wipes! Even now my DS are big I still have them stashed in my car, bag, kitchen. I'm unsure how I cleaned before I had children Easter Grin

Underthedeepblueocean · 01/04/2015 23:18

Baby girl clothes.

Yes, I know I should only be buying cute dresses for my DS, but I absolutely adore girls' clothes!

abadoo · 01/04/2015 23:18

YANBU. Best perk I have is the chance to nip to a cafe for cake on a day off as a treat for DS (ha, right, treat for me too that I'd never have allowed myself before)

ThreeFrazzledFandangos · 01/04/2015 23:23

Being a bit of a knob in softplay/parks/snow.

Plus I like riding on miniature trains and luckily so does DS!

cogitosum · 01/04/2015 23:25

The slides at soft play Grin

Actually mostly it's meeting people locally. We lived in our village 2 years before ds without knowing anyone. I now know loads of people and have a lovely group of friends from NCT.

Xmasbaby11 · 01/04/2015 23:25

So easy to talk to anyone when you're with dc. Love being able to chat to anyone when out and about!

Highlowdollypepper · 01/04/2015 23:26

We've done all sorts since having kids where previously we would have stood at gates and thought "nah"!

Charitybelle · 01/04/2015 23:26

P&C parking spaces (when I can find one)

Having an excuse not to go out clubbing anymore! Much prefer staying in with a good book.

WhoKnowsWhereTheChocolateGoes · 01/04/2015 23:30

Yes, friendships and having an instant topic to chat to people about. My NCT group too, we're still meeting up for a weekly coffee after 11 years.

Also being able to justify working part time.

Dowser · 01/04/2015 23:36

More love than you can shake a stick at.

neolara · 01/04/2015 23:39

Met fabulous people.

Discopanda · 01/04/2015 23:39

You learn who your actual friends are, experience more love than you thought was possible and have a rational excuse to build a blanket fort, blow bubbles and do funny voices when reading The Gruffalo.
The other week I was having a shit day and feeling sorry for myself when my 3 YO DD pottered over and said "mummy, can I give you a kiss?", that's the stuff in life that really matters.

Didactylos · 01/04/2015 23:40

blueberry and raspberry rice cakes
would never have tried them otherwise
now its 'one for baby, 2 for mummy, shit, need another packet'

LadyIsabellaWrotham · 01/04/2015 23:40

Saturday kids club films for a quid - I love Dreamworks films.

When the DC were tiny Watch With Baby was even better because I could go and see 18 certificate films on the cheap on a Wednesday morning. And I get an excuse to go and see pantos every year.

Satisfying my urge to shop without too much guilt/clutter because they need new clothes every year.

HomeIsWhereTheHeartIs · 01/04/2015 23:41

Yes to parent and child spaces, part-time work and miniature railways.
Also, I love having a fridge full of petit filous and watching Wallace and Gromit.

PacificDogwood · 01/04/2015 23:42

Ooh, this is a nice fred Smile

My own mother suddenly taking me more seriously and treating me like an adult most of the time

IHeartKingThistle · 01/04/2015 23:42

DD can now make a cup of tea. Job done.

PacificDogwood · 01/04/2015 23:42

Oh and watching Pixar movies repeatedly

LMGTFY · 01/04/2015 23:43

Rediscovering Farley's Rusks (please tell me they haven't changed in the last 6 years).

Sacking off housework cos playing out is more fun and they I would only trash it in 5 minutes anyway!

Discopanda · 01/04/2015 23:43

Ball pits!!!

LadyIsabellaWrotham · 01/04/2015 23:43

Oh and Brio train layouts.

One of the best mornings of my parenting life was spent at the Science Museum doing a Lego play session. They just gave us an unimaginable quantity of plain white 2x4 bricks and left us to go wild. Since it was midweek there were practically no men there, and the joy on the faces of the middle aged women as they "helped" their children create was something to behold.

BackforGood · 01/04/2015 23:44

Saturday Club at the pictures - £1 a seat - fab

Needing no excuse to watch Disney / Dreamworks / etc - who make all the best films

Being legitimately able to go to the park and swing on the swings

Being able to put everyday "worries" into a bit of perspective

Eastpoint · 01/04/2015 23:45

Eating their chips, finishing off lots of icecreams, eating their chocolate when I've run out.
Being able to buy a coat & say I'll share it with them (teens now).
Fitting dd1's shoes so being able to throw her shoes on if I'm going out & mine are upstairs.

Dds traveling everywhere with nail varnish remover & nail files so I don't have to.
This list reveals that I'm greedy & lazy. Sad