Tell me the best part about being a mum?

[Sparksi]

To counter all the doom-and-gloom posts about parenting, can anyone share their favourite parts about being a mum? What have you found most fulfilling?

Pregnant and nervous, but excited too!

Being the centre of your child's universe - when they are little, the way they light up when you walk in the room is a totally priceless feeling.

Loving and being loved unconditionally. It's wonderful.

When they reach the age that they properly cuddle you. When they are hurt (I don't enjoy her being hurt of course!) Or upset, or have something they are excited about and they come to you. Watching their little personalities grow, watching them learn new things

Even in the worst moments, deep in PND and sleep deprivation, I still wholeheartedly knew that I was exactly where I wanted to be.

But the bits that are just pure loveliness? So many. When they're tiny, it's just holding them - so blissfully perfect.

When you get to the stage when first thing they do when they wake up is look up at you at smile.

When they dance for the first time - the cute little baby dance where they just jiggle up and down.

The first time they say mama!

When they properly wrap their arms around you for a cuddle.

Too many things to count really!

Forty years on. When grandchildren trust you and listen to you, and you find you can help them .

I have laughed so much since becoming a parent; the love from them is the best but the laughing from what they do/say/happens is not talked about the most and that continues into teenage years.

The morning smiles, the sleepy cuddles, the giggles, the joy they have in their games and general life.

Being a mum is exhausting but it's so very very worth it.

I’m just so proud of him, all the time. He amazes me several times a day, which makes life really magical.

This....then having grandkids and that repeats

Being that little persons world, them wanting to come to you for everything. And looking at that person and thinking wow, that little one is absolutely everything to me and makes life such a joy.

Seeing them grow and develop doing the most random wee things. I bathed my baby (11 months) 2 nights ago and was brushing his hair and put the brush down beside him and he picked it up and started brushing my hair. I actually cried.

For me, it's knowing that I give 3 people in the world a feeling of safety. They all know that whatever is going in in their lives they have a place to come where they will never be judged, and they will always get love and support and money and food and somewhere to live if they need it. I love that I'm that person for my babies (grown but still my babies)

The connection and love you have for each other is like nothing else.

😍 loving these..and thats so sweet

Loving so incredibly deeply and having it returned. Nothing will ever compare for me.

Seeing them grow and develop into a person

Ah what a lovely thread.

I have teenagers and they are awesome.

I found newborns so hard (unexpected as I always wanted children). I was worried about the 'just you wait' crowd...

But seriously I wouldn't change a thing. They are interesting and funny. They have sports that I was never interested in, so that's been great fun.

I wouldn't change a thing (even though I'm not with their Dad). I also don't want to 'turn back the clock' to when they were babies. No thanks. I'll enjoy watching Gavin & Stacey and Downton Abbey with them any day of the week.

The smiles - when they've achieved something they've been working so hard on (1st steps, riding a bike, passing a grading, earning a new Brownie badge, etc)
The sense of pride you feel at their accomplishments.
The hugs - when they come running out of school to you & are just so happy to see you.

Somedays it seems like parenting is the hardest/worst job there is, but then they pull a flip-reverse & that brings you back to feeling that there's nothing better than parenting your child.

Having your baby snuggle up to you, standing up in their cot to greet you in the mornings, the first time they really giggle, , watching them achieve all those first year milestones. It's great being a mum

The love

Just having a family of my own and feeling as though I'm doing what I am meant to be doing.

Making them laugh ❤️ I had my almost 2yo in fits of goggles in the bath by opening and closing my eyes dramatically 😅. Also generally watching them discover the world is amazing. They can be so fascinated by things we take for granted/don’t notice!

The look on their faces when they see you, followed by the sprinting up for a cuddle. The absolute fullness your heart feels when they do something to make you proud, or say something sweet or silly, or start showing you their little personality.

It's a cliche to say that you love your child like nobody else but I can't reiterate to you how true this is - it's on a different planet. You fall totally and utterly in love with them. I'm excited for you starting this journey! Are you having a girl or a boy?

Being the centre of their world when they are little, but then watching them grow and become their own person.. watching the young adult go out into the world.

Then they have babies of their own, and you fall in love all over again and you love your own adult child even more because they are an amazing Mum/Dad .

I found the baby and primary years very trying, if I'm brutally honest, but now mine are all adults I love the relationship with them. We go for shopping days, coffee, garden centres and they come home almost every weekend without fail. I'm so proud of them my heart aches.

And having grandchildren? Beyond awesome.