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What are the things you never thought you'd do before becoming a parent? Tell us for a chance to win a copy of YOU'RE SO MUMMY + a YEAR'S SUPPLY OF BOOKS!

136 replies

UrsulaMumsnet · 22/02/2016 11:52

Set aside the Gina, silence the baby-whisperers and shelve the Jo Frost manuals. This is the book to make new mothers feel better about themselves.

No tips, no advice, no routines, no philosophies - just an honest account of two writers' adventures in the twenty-first century Motherland.

Alex and Sarah are two mothers and lifelong friends, whose hilarious book is the perfect antidote to all the smug, scolding, impossible-to-achieve tomes of advice that are passed around baby yoga classes up and down the country.

Read an extract

Tell us the one thing you never thought you'd do before becoming a parent for a chance to win a copy of You're So Mummy by Alex Manson-Smith and Sarah Thompson plus A YEAR'S SUPPLY OF BOOKS

This discussion is sponsored by Michael Joseph and will close on 21 March

What are the things you never thought you'd do before becoming a parent? Tell us for a chance to win a copy of YOU'RE SO MUMMY + a YEAR'S SUPPLY OF BOOKS!
What are the things you never thought you'd do before becoming a parent? Tell us for a chance to win a copy of YOU'RE SO MUMMY + a YEAR'S SUPPLY OF BOOKS!
OP posts:
AddictedtoGreys · 27/02/2016 12:54

I never thought I would be so patient. I never thought I would be a SAHP. I also never thought I would find some of being a Mum so hard.

tangerinesarenottheonlyfruit · 27/02/2016 11:55

I never thought I'd BF beyond a year. BF DS till he was 4! DD (nearly 3) is still going strong ...

Purplehonesty · 27/02/2016 11:52

I never thought I would run towards someone being sick with my hands out. Or hold a baby closer to me while they were sick so my clothes caught it and not the bed/sofa/carpet!

Pre babies...I would have run away....!

CrabbitArse · 27/02/2016 09:56

Never thought I'd be cry with pride because DD(2) managed to stack her cups, she has SEN so it was a big deal in our house!

foxessocks · 27/02/2016 09:52

I never thought I'd know all the words to as many Nursery rhymes and children's songs as I do!

NattyTile · 27/02/2016 08:40

Never thought I could sleep on my back, with a small bundle on my chest.

Never thought I could sleep in an armchair.

Never thought I could sleep in a green plastic chair under harsh hospital lights.

Never thought I could function through normal daily life on 2.5 hours' sleep, broken up, for weeks and months.

MrsPeel1 · 27/02/2016 08:37

I never thought I'd utter the words "take your finger out or your anus", "no you can't put your finger in mummy's anus", "no, that's not mummy's anus", "no, you can't put your finger in there either".

All with a straight face.

vrahikl · 27/02/2016 06:05

I never thought I'd be happy to suck snot through a tube, and really underestimated the satisfaction I'd get from getting a huge bit of snot out so my daughter can breathe

littlejeopardy · 27/02/2016 04:14

I never thought that I would lose my filter to determine what topics are suitable conversation in company. But now, only 7 weeks into motherhood I will talk to anyone about my baby's trapped wind and pooing habits!

Palehorse · 26/02/2016 20:41

Worms again I'm afraid:
Spending an inordinate amount of time, on my knees, with a torch, staring up bumholes looking for the little bastards

DigestiveBiscuit · 26/02/2016 20:21

I never thought, until I had had twins plus older sibling, that just being on my own to string whole sentences of thought together, without three people talking at me, would be my idea of bliss - and to have a cup of hot coffee while reading a magazine would be absolute bliss!

smudgedlipstick · 26/02/2016 19:56

I never thought I would sing rather loudly with my toddler whilst walking around tescos without batting an eyelid Grin

anotherdayanothersquabble · 26/02/2016 19:53

I never thought I would be so connected to another person that I would be unable to separate myself from their pain.

purplepandas · 26/02/2016 19:41

Make up really silly songs and stories.

Tootsieglitterballs · 26/02/2016 19:36

Pay so much attention to poo.... Or eat food off the floor.

Baconyum · 26/02/2016 19:03

I never thought it was possible to feel so much pride in having a child that is kind and thoughtful. Academic achievement is wonderful too but I'm most proud of how she thinks of others.

TheyreMadITellYouMaaaad · 26/02/2016 18:28

I never in a million years imagined that I would breastfeed talking toddlers! Grin

PixieChops · 26/02/2016 18:25

Never thought I'd stay awake worrying about every little thing especially if one of my children is ill. I will stay awake all night listening to the breathe if they've got so much as a sniffle. Living with generalise anxiety disorder is hard work!

PickledLilly · 26/02/2016 18:18

I never thought I'd let my child watch as much tv as I do, sometimes a quiet life is more important than high flung ideals.

WidowWadman · 26/02/2016 18:17

I never thought I'd end up breastfeeding for 18 months each. I used to believe going beyond a few weeks is weird.

CazY777 · 26/02/2016 11:20

There are so many things - I didn't think I would enjoy singing nursery rhymes in public, be able to function on 4 hours of broken sleep, take my daughter to McDonald's (I was totally against this while pregnant), wipe poo off of my sock and carry on wearing it for the rest of the day....

SweetheartLittleLove · 26/02/2016 11:09

I never thought I'd be standing at the till in John Lewis and I'd reach into my handbag to get a tissue and pull out a pair of my daughter's pants instead, wipe my nose and put them back in my bag without even realising.

I didn't think I'd ever go to a meeting with a former work colleague with a toilet seat in my handbag.

glasgowlass · 26/02/2016 11:00

I never thought I'd willingly put my hands out in a "cradle" fashion to catch DS's vomit.

Silvertap · 26/02/2016 10:56

Breastfeed a 2 week old on the loo whilst suffering from a severe case of the squits. Ironically the week previous I would have done anything to get rid of the awful constipation!

Maddaddam · 26/02/2016 10:26

I never thought I'd spend 2 decades or more in my home country, living a "settled" life.
My life plan was always about travelling and moving, and living abroad. With or without partner and kids.
I didn't envisage a settled family life in Milly-Molly-Mandy-land.