Remind me why we do this...

[FlightofFancy]

Subtitle is probably something like: is there any other job in the world as thankless as being a mother!

You spend ages making a lovely breakfast, and gently encouraging them to eat it only for it to be thrown back up all over you.

You buy the 'perfect' high chair so baby can sit at the table and feel part of the family, only for it to be banged with toys until it's dented, smeared with food and generally treated like rubbish.

You try to read to them (because otherwise they'll grow up mentally stunted doncha-know) and all they want to do it tear out the pages of the book.

You buy cute little outfits, only for them to be pooed on and boil washed so often they look like rags.

You breastfeed them so they get all the health benefits yadda-yadda, only to still be getting up 3 times a night to feed at 7 months when apparently everyone else's FF/mix fed baby has been sleeping through for weeks (not that I'm slightly overtired today or anything).

You talk to them all the time to develop their future language skills and all they learn to do is squawk like a seagull so everyone stares at you and asks if they're alright.

You spend all bloody day doing this so their dad can come home from lovely, peaceful, grown-up work and get cuddles and smiles, then offer 'helpful' advice about why they don't sleep more...



I'll stop now. And breathe...
Remind me why we do this?

[MathsMadMummy]

'cos when they hug you and kiss you, and are so pleased to see you when you enter the room, it's just magic.

hope you can get a rest today! x

[mamasunshine]

Because when they give you a grin/giggle your heart melts and it's all worth it

[FlightofFancy]

Ah, that's where I'm going wrong then - delightful child will smile at anyone and everyone utterly indiscriminately. Last week, after a good hour of whinging, complaining and screaming at me about nothing much, he beamed and giggled at the bloody builder!

Perhaps he'll appreciate me more when I go back to work and can swan in at the end of the day - when someone else has had to deal with fighting feeding/enforcing naps/entertaining him all day.

[mamsnet]

When I was in the throes of the phase your describing (my children would have been about 6mths and 2 and a half) a friend recommended that I read ¨Why Love Matters¨..

It really did make me see why it was all going to be worth it in the end..

[StealthPolarBear]

because very soon it all gets easier
i have been promised...

[FlightofFancy]

I'm guessing it may get easier when he can tell me what's bloody wrong.

Damn you human evolution making us walk on our hind legs - why can't be have young like other species that are more self-sufficient more quickly!

[StealthPolarBear]

oh yes, PUSSSSSSSSSH PUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSH PUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSH hello darling, first feed, now make mummy a cup of tea and colour in while i snooze

[StealthPolarBear]

and DS was a fairly late talker and it got much easier when he could tell us what was wrong

[piprabbit]

I've been thinking exactly the same thing for the last few days as my DCs have been fighting; appear to be on some sort of hunger strike that means they only eat sweets without complaint and when they do eat it is v.v.v.slow; the house is pigsty and nobody has said thank you to me for providing around the clock entertainment, clean clothes or tasty food.

StealthPolarBear - when does it get easier? DD is 6 and DS is 2.

[StealthPolarBear]

l;ol pip mine are 3 & 1
guessing easier is a relative concept
still, I'm 31, and my mum sleeps all night, eats when & what she wants, and has a fairly relaxed life (unless she's looking after my DCs!)

So by 54 it's definitely better

[piprabbit]

Roll on 2062 then... I'll be 92 years old and ready for a bit of a rest .

[mamasunshine]

and at 54!

[MuddyMessyMuddle]

Your post made me laugh, thank you

Sometimes I think seeing the funny side of it all is the only way to get through it!

Have you read that article in the Daily Mail today about do children really make us happy? It says something about being in denial about all the horrible bits and selectively remembering the good bits and that you can't expect a right to be happy but only snippets of joy in amongst the crapness.

[StealthPolarBear]

no no pip not that long - i meant the mum is 54! but of course i should have used the child's age - when he/she is 30

[FlightofFancy]

Thanks SPB - I'm starting to feel better!

Yes, you're right - my parents now go on holiday when and where they want, have disposable income, sleep until 8-9am if they want, often stay up later than me... Only another 29 1/2 years to go!

[piprabbit]

Very glad it's not when DS is 54...
So I should be safe to assume a bit of down time around about my 70th birthday?

Or will DCs be having children of their own by then and expecting me to babysit?

[StealthPolarBear]

Actually forget everything I said we do this because we are amazingly lucky