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Original poster

Sacrifices you have made as a parent?

146 replies

Babyshark2018 · 01/10/2018 22:28

Since having my daughter 3 months ago there is probably a huge list of changes I have made. Sleep/ hardly going out etc. But recently I have given up caffeine and dairy in the hopes it will help her colic/ reflux issues. It is SO hard! I know that sounds pretty trivial but it’s the little things like a nice cup of coffee that get me through the day.

Today I had decaf tea with almond milk Shock . She’s totally worth it but I can’t get over how much my life has changed.

What have you sacrafised?

OP posts:
BitchyChuckle · 01/10/2018 22:29

Everything

dangermouseisace · 01/10/2018 22:29

My pelvic floor.

spaceraidersrock · 01/10/2018 22:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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LonginesPrime · 01/10/2018 22:31

Several careers, my social life, my ability to travel to exciting places, my hopes of ever finding a partner, my dreams...

BikeRunSki · 01/10/2018 22:33

Where would you like me to start....

My income, my free time, my fitness, my wellbeing, my holiday choices, my activity choices, my best friend, my food choices, where I live, my sport, my career.... That’s just for starters.

DramaAlpaca · 01/10/2018 22:33

My waistline.

Bunnybigears · 01/10/2018 22:33

My chance of a career I had my children before I was established im a career after leaving Uni and I have chosen to take a part time dead end job in order to work around school hours and be there to pick them up everyday.

spaceraidersrock · 01/10/2018 22:36

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Andromache77 · 01/10/2018 22:37

Going without sleep for months and months, she was terrible in that sense. Fighting to get her to sleep and then getting up and working till the early hours of the morning as work couldn't wait (freelancer). Basically sleeping very little for over three years. It was and still is worth it but hell, that was hard.

Nowadays I do sleep, sometimes even for more than eight hours. I kind of feel human again.

BikeRunSki · 01/10/2018 22:38

OP, your child is only 3 months old. Give it 5 or ten years and you will realise that decaf tea with almond milk is the least of your worries.

Original poster
Babyshark2018 · 01/10/2018 22:40

BikeRunSki it scares me that you’re so right. This is the easy part.

OP posts:
Yellowsunredroses · 01/10/2018 22:40

Yep everything. I’m sorry to say it but I agree - you’ve hardly started

It’s worth it though!

lunar1 · 01/10/2018 22:43

The only thing in my life that is the same as when we had our first dc is my husband. Nothing else is recognisable.

Andromache77 · 01/10/2018 22:44

Scary is the word, #spaceraidersrock

On a more positive note, I managed to keep my career going, not that I care about having a career, I just wanted to keep earning and I did. My little one will never want for nothing and I manage to spend time with her (though I still often work till late or on weekends).

Gettingbackonmyfeet · 01/10/2018 22:44

My career my marriage (although he sacrificed that really) most definately my sleep

150% worth it ...when people say it's easy I get annoyed....it isn't...its unbelievably hard and I wouldn't change a minute...most important thing I've done and the sacrifices pale in comparison but it was a close run thing giving up caffeine whilst pregnant Grin

spaceraidersrock · 01/10/2018 22:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rebecca36 · 01/10/2018 22:45

Not sacrifices because a lot have been my choice. Things inevitably change when having a baby but we know they will.

My mum used to go on about the sacrifices she and my dad (who never said anything) made for me. I once said to her that I hadn't asked for whatever it was she was going on about at that time and she told me I was a wicked, ungrateful girl. So I use the word, 'sacrifice' sparingly.

MaryPoppinsUmberellaHandle · 01/10/2018 22:47

All of the above.........but they're worth it.

user1483390742 · 01/10/2018 22:49

Everything. I am particularly sad about my dream career not happening....Sad

meow1989 · 01/10/2018 22:50

14 weeks in: my figure, my boobs (not bf they're just not the same!), long baths, free time idled away gaming, nights in with dh and a bottle of prosecco, going out not covered in sick (!), being the most important person to DH (and vice verca), sleep.

Totally, totally worth it.

Original poster
Babyshark2018 · 01/10/2018 22:51

Rebecca that is true! Not nice for your Mum to say that. I would never say it to DD (well maybe in a lighthearted way like I gave up coffee for you not you ruined my figure/ life way!)

OP posts:
Andromache77 · 01/10/2018 22:53

Rebecca36, you're right, we do these things willingly, they shouldn't be used as a stick to beat our children into submission. That's wrong at so many levels it's just difficult to put into words.

As for me, I'll probably tell her when she's old enough to understand but only so that she sees how much I love her (and to teach her the importance of maintaining your economic independence).

FormerlyFrikadela01 · 01/10/2018 22:54

I don't recognise my life since I had ds (2yo). It obviously worth it and we knowingly made all the changes.

I just didn't anticipate how hard having no time with dp would be. I won't see him for the next 3 days because he is on nights and I'm on days, we work opposite shifts for childcare so this is the norm but it really wears me down and I'm not sure how sustainable for our relationship it is in tge long term.

I wish caffeine was my biggest worry.

Catlickingtail · 01/10/2018 22:54

OP if you haven't already tried oat milk then give it a go. I had to give up dairy and soya for my baby and I found oat milk to be the nicest in tea and coffee. Oat milk really did make my life bearable again - sounds melodramatic but a decent cuppa is important.

elephantoverthehill · 01/10/2018 22:55

Pride, sanity and any chance of promotion but the DCs are totally worth it.