What do you wish you'd done before having children?

Am impressed at someone taking LO to Simla!

Top thing I miss is going on fab holidays- now it's too much hassle just finding a child- friendly hotel and airports are not so appealing.
Really glad we went diving on the Great Barrier Reef via China and Great Wall (although I don't recommend AirChina!!) Pick a couple of ace destinatoins and go for it whilst you can still afford and pack for it. Go skiing- I fell PG on X-country ski trip after breaking an arm.
Why not go on a whisky tour of highands- or just a weekend away on a whim. Clubbing and spas in Iceland? Now feeling envious...
Oh and spend some money and quality time on your fab self, right now in the here and present because you deserve it. So there!
Also go to the cinema lots.

try to think of things that you would like to do with your children when they come along.

I wanted to learn to sail but, due to various unexepcted happenings, I didn't get to the level I wanted to before DCs came along. If I had I would have been more confident to take them sailing with me now. Also works with things like skiing, I'm guessing it would be easier to take DCs on a skiing holiday if you didn't have to concentrate on learning for yourself too. I think a good thing to do in preparation for your children is to lead as interesting a life as you can beforehand so you can inspire them to do the same. If you get the chance - do it I say.

You'll never fully appreciate 'me time' until you have had children!

Loads of stuff. Travelled more independently - maybe lived abroad. Climbed a bit higher up the greasy career pole. Lived alone for longer. Written a novel, rather than trying to write one with a toddler leaping on my knee every 10 mins! Ach well....

Learned to surf
Learned to ski
Saved more money
Bought a family home instead of 2 investment apartments
Gotten my teeth whitened
Gotten my golf handicap
Appreciated the good shape my tummy and boobs were in

Lavender2, that's lovely.

Appreciated how good my figure was before having children. Also, would have liked to have won the lottery.

nothing because always wanted children from an early age and will do the things when they have left home, like travelling and stuff (know that dh and I will appreciate it much more having had to wait for them)...just don't have any regrets.

Pelvic floor exercises.

I had a friend in your position. Her life was 'on hold'. Eventually she went for the job she wanted, settled into it and conceived.
Make sure you are really fit. I remember how fit and toned I was before I became pregnant and ruefully haven't got back to it!

I wish that we'd got the house in perfect condition. In fact, we didn't even buy a house until i was 3 months pregnant, and then devoted all our energy and funds to the new baby. It is only in the past year that we've started to buy decent furniture and get the rooms in order. I wish we'd done that before we had a baby.

I think it is really hard to tell someone to enjoy and appreciate their freedom and spontaneity because you only get a real appreciation for these things when you have a child and aren't able to them as often.

What small pleasure it is to read Sunday papers in bed. To wake up without an alarm clock (or baby calling mummy!) To spend the whole of Sunday sitting in a smokey pub getting drunk. To spend an afternoon browsing in a clothes shop. To decide to eat out on the same night you make the decision.

It's the little things you miss but you cannot appreciate quite how much until you have those things taken away.

Do wish that I had thought about children a bit more when considering careers as have ended up in one of the least family friendly careers possible - city law!

learned to drive
pre-dd, we did lots of stuff on the spur of the moment. going away for the weekend, nice hols etc, but also just ringing each other at 5 and saying 'see you in the pub at 7.' sob
spontaneity is the main thing i miss

Nothing really. Love having kids and wish I had started earlier really....

I wish i'd realsied how FREE i was!!
(Not that i would have it any other way, just you don't appreciate it until you realise it's gone!!)

IYSWIM!!

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I wish I'd considered a career with easier part-time or child friendly working hours - and wish I hadn't dismissed teaching and journalism as too badly paid. Working hours just weren't on my list of prorities before parenthood - now they're near the top.

Got on the prperty ladder. Still renting cause need bigger house too much debt to buy too much ££ spent on nanny to save and ££. Should have got on the property ladder years ago. Hind sight is 20/20.

travelled round the world, shared a flat with my best friend, gone to college

I am glad that I did the following:
Backpacked round Australia and SE Asia
Spend a vast fortune on Scuba diving in lots of far flung places
Went trekking in Northern Vietnam
Travelled abroad with work A LOT
Had spur of the moment weekends away to visit friends / European cities / art galleries and museums.
Went to several Music Festivals where I spent the entire weekend either drunk or covered in mud
Had sex in the great outdoors
Went to Health farm for pampered week

To be honest, there is not much that I regret I haven't done. A few lazy Sunday mornings or more nights out would be nice now.

Oh, and as soon as DD can use a mask and snorkel, we intend to go off diving again!!

Travel

I second aloha - indulge yourself, get that 2 seater open top sports car, pamper yourself, eat out in nice places, holidays, party party party and SLEEP LATE. My dh learnt to fly pre-kids, but I won't let him fly now ( well he doesn't want to take the risk either)

Being and older mum I have been there, done that and got the T shirt as far as self indulgence goes and now I'm happy to put the kids first for a few yrs.

Also if you get the chance after all this self-indulging, build up some savings and/or buy the family home you will need. Money is always useful if you want to give up work and be a SAHM

Go to New York! Had two fab weekends there shortly pre ds. Lie in. I don't need to tell you to have sex. Enjoy having your prepregnancy body. Go out to dinner on a whim. Go somewhere glamorous and far-flung. Stay out late drinking in glamorous bars and lie-in in the morning. Indulge your impulses. I did all these for some years and now feel very happy as a mother, so it does work.