Nurofen for Children want to hear how your life has changed in unexpected ways since having your DC - £300 voucher prize draw! NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

Nurofen for Children have asked us to find out how Mumsnetters’ lives have changed since having children.

Here’s what they say, “It’s no surprise that 88% of first time mums reflect on having a baby as a life changing experience as they rework their normal routines to take care of their little one. During their baby’s first year, over two thirds of mums say they felt the biggest impacts on their relationships (65%), work life (65%) and friendships (55%).i

“Almost half of those questioned describe the first year as full of love and amazement.i during the early months in particular, 29% say they struggled with feelings of loneliness and over half (52%) felt that they had lost their identity since becoming a mum.i After friendships changed, 52% say they felt a need to make a new group of friends who could relate to their parenting experiences.”

“Nurofen for Children is trusted by parents – 9/10 parents who used it would recommend it to a friend.iii

“Nurofen for Children understands how daunting it can be going through so many changes, especially in the early months of parenthood. To help you through this life changing but magical period, you need advice you can trust and products you can rely on.”

So, what changes have you experienced since having children which you perhaps hadn’t quite anticipated? Perhaps you actually all of a sudden become a lot more efficient at doing things? Have you uncovered a hidden talent and become an expert fancy dress designer and creator? Or maybe you didn’t appreciate how it would now take you three times so long to get ready in the morning? Whatever it is, we’d love to hear it!

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 Love2Shop voucher!

Thanks
MNHQ

Terms and conditions:

• To enter the competition answer the question above
  
• To enter, you must be:
  A) A UK resident; and b) 18 years old or over at the time of entry and c) a registered member of Mumsnet
  
• Competition closes at midnight on Thursday 26th November 2015
  
• Entries posted after the closing date will not be considered
  
• One winner will be chosen from all winning entries
  
• Mumsnet will choose the winner at random after the closing date
  
• Mumsnet will contac the winner privately to organise delivery of the prize
  
• The prize is £300 Love2Shop vouchers
  
• Full terms and conditions here
  
  Nurofen for Children 3 months to 9 years Orange / Strawberry. Nurofen for Children Orange / Strawberry 3 months to 12 years (weighing over 5kg). Contains Ibuprofen. For relief of fever. Always read the label.
  
  iSurvey of 2,000 mums by One Poll, commissioned by Nurofen for Children (October 2013)
  iiSurvey of 2,000 parents with a baby under 6 years old, commissioned by Nurofen for Children (May 2014)
  iiiSurvey of Mum’s Views of 141 mums ‘9 out of 10 mums who used NfC would recommend it to a friend’. Last accessed August 2013.

[voyager50]

I never seem to have any quality time with my partner - life is just so busy and we are rarely alone together these days.

However, I have learned how to get a lot done in a short space of time - with just 10 minutes to myself I can load the washing and prepare the vegetables!

[Lozza1990]

• I've learned how to do a lot of things with one hand
  
• My multi-tasking has reached a whole crazy new level
  
• My appearance doesn't even get a second thought
  
• I find myself actually looking forward to daytime TV and Bob the builder
  
• The absolute frustration at the world when anything DARES to wake your sleeping baby who you just spent an hour rocking to sleep
  
• And finally, the love and pure joy you feel when DC does something as simple as cough or scratch their face

[TheSpottedZebra]

I have become amazing at sleeping - getting to sleep quickly, getting back to sleep quickly. Sleeping sitting up, sleeping on the sofa. Basically snatching any precious sleep time that I can.

[HitsAndMrs]

I didn't understand how hard it would be to get dressed and actually get out of the house just for a pint of milk! There is always a child who needs the toilet just as we get in the car too.

[sharond101]

I've become very selfless and much more emotional. I also look after our planet bettter and appreciate peaceful times much more. I love spending time playing and have a much happier life now.

[trilbydoll]

Pre dc I was really lazy, office job, barely walked at all. Now I walk loads, it's easier than transferring them in and out of the car. I think nothing of walking an hour somewhere whereas before it would not have even crossed my mind to walk that distance.

[AnyoneButAndre]

I know more about the young ladies and gentlemen of YouTube than I ever thought possible. I could give you chapter and verse of the lives, loves, and preferred videogames of all the "stars" whose names are greeted by my childfree friends and colleagues with heartfelt "Who???" faces.

I also know far more than I ever thought desirable about diggers/the Titanic/the Battle of Britain/tardigrades/nanobots/Heroes of Olympus fan fiction/Five Nights at Freddy's backstory/Minecraft/Minecraft/Minecraft and more Minecraft.

[superbfairywren]

I hadn't really thought about it prior to having a baby, but now I wish I hadn't taken going to the loo alone for granted. Now I savour those precious moments when I have someone else to watch DD and I can go to the toilet alone for a minutes peace.
Same with general personal space, now I have a one year old dragging on my leg, necklace, sleeve, hair always at the most inopportune moments(generally when I need the loo/am on the loo/am trying to do my hair/when she is smeared in food!)!

[Ataraxy]

I took my young children to karate kids as I wanted them to learn about boundaries, how to listen to instructions not just follow others and also self-defence.

Somehow I got dragged into doing a class (middle age and overweight). I love it. My kids stopped going after learning the basics but they still have to go to class... to watch me!

I'm working towards my fourth belt. It was done wonders for my self-confidence and assertiveness as well as my fitness.

I would never have done this if not for my DCs.

[CMOTDibbler]

There was a stage of ds's life when I could tell you every publicly accessible toilet in each town we went to. I also never thought I'd learn to always have food about my person.

[VaseandCandle]

I worry less about the unimportant things - did I say something stupid in a meeting, is my hair a mess, could I lose a bit of weight type of things. I have less time to dwell but also in the scheme my life they seem trivial now.

[theshooglypeg]

I laugh more. Everyone told me about the bad bits- lack of sleep, no social life, skint etc. But no-one told me how hilarious kids are. My daughter has just left the room with her dad to go to bed, and on the way she paused at the living room door, announced "That door is TOO BIG!" And marched off sternly. She makes me laugh all the time.

[thequickbrownfox]

Why does Nurofen want this information?

Might be an unpopular perspective but I find the idea of a drug company peddling themselves to parents as someone/thing you can "trust", disgusting.

How many people are completely hooked on Nurofen Plus, and other over counter medications containing codeine? I'd bet my bottom dollar a hefty amount of Nurofen revenue comes straight from addicts.

There are threads on here by people who are struggling with addiction to OTC medication, and threads by people whose families have been completely destroyed by it. I know because I was part of one.

I'm bloody angry with you Mumsnet, for collaborating with a company that causes this much misery.

Feel free not to enter me into the prize draw, although that probably goes without saying.

[SouthWestmom]

Well, positive and sad ways really:

I am able to deal with spiders and dogs, to demonstrate that they aren't scary!

I have forgiven myself for being a kid when my dad died as I've realised that being grumpy and cross the last time I saw him would have made no difference to him loving me. That is a big one!

I can cook macaroni!

I am a dab hand at trimming hair around ears (3 boys!) with nail scissors

My career had to end when one of the DC was young, due to his difficulties.

[Frolicacid]

Everyone tells you about the 'difficult' changes, such as less time, money and sleep.
The thing that has surprised me is the all consuming joy of having my son. I counted myself as a pretty tough cookie before he arrived, so I've been blindsided by just how emotional I feel now. I often cry tears of joy at how blessed I am, and that is totally unexpected.

[DinosaursRoar]

I have become a lot more efficient at doing housework and have lot lower standards and can fit a lot in a short period of time.

[Peaceloveandpartyrings]

I have friends! Since having DS my social life has exploded and it's brilliant. I feel part of a community and it's wonderful.

[choccyp1g]

Everything Thequickbrownfox said.
Stuff the prize draw.

[WowOoo]

I didn't expect to be quite so tired. Mine are older now, but I hadn't really remembered that I would age with them...

[purplepandas]

Appreciating quiet time without DC. A talent for being more silly than I realised I could be.

[margaritasbythesea]

I am much more careful about how I cross the road because it matters much more now that I get home safely ??

[Cocacolaandchocolate]

Time for myself doesn't happen.
I also had to live without expensive make up, and getting my nails done as with 4 children finances don't stretch. Wouldn't change it though. My 4 babys are my world

[ButterflyOfFreedom]

• Don't think anything of sniffing your DC's bottom several times a day - even in public
  

• Survive off much less sleep. 7am is now a lie in
  

• Contents of my bag has changed and regularly includes some sort of toy, Goodies snack, and baby wipes
  

• Appreciate so much more when I get chance to go to the loo on my own / Enjoy a hot drink / bath in peace
  

• Biggest change is the joy DC bring and the overwhelming love I have for them - best thing ever!

[wickedlazy]

Yes to learning to deal with spiders. Dp is terrified, but don't want ds thanks mum to be like I was, so trying to get over my fear. Can now catch them and put them out. Hate killing them.

Also learning that if ds (four) hears the bath running, he will cry and scream to get in with me. Or choose the moment I slide in and get that "ahhh" feeling, when dp has distracted him downstairs long enough for me to run one in peace to burst in and demand he needs to do a poo. Thus I haven't had a bath before 9pm for ages!