if you had only one piece of advice to give to a mother what would it be?

[dubbada]

exactly that,

tip: forgive yourself its okay to get things wrong. tomorrows another day

Don't read any so called parenting book written by someone who hasn't got kids...

Don't judge others.

Bruises and cuts from playing and exploring are nothing to worry about

The smiles and cute moments completely overwrite all the hard things.

Savour every precious moment, it really does fly by!

Listen to your mother

The best advice I was given....

"therr's always time for mum to have a cup of tea"

Its just a phase. It will pass.

Don't be scared to ask for help, and don't be scared to ignore people's helpful 'advice' if it's not for you

Appreciate and enjoy them while you can.

Don't let people make you feel guilty, just because you've made a different parenting choice to what they would have made. (Thinking about bf v ff, or sah v woh)

Everything's a phase, sleepless nights, biting, clingying etc all a phase.

Cuddle them as much as you can when their little!

Can I have three?! I'd tell them all three and let them pick -

1. Trust your instincts.

2. Try not to wish time away waiting for the next exciting milestone - it goes far too fast as it is.

3. This too shall pass (useful in the middle of the night!).

2 and 3 sound contradictory but they aren't really...

It goes by in the blink of an eye so don't sweat the small stuff.

A gin and tonic at 5pm works wonders!

Trust your instincts.

Just enjoy it!

Have your baby checked for tongue tie by somebody who knows what they are doing.

DS1 (age 6) has suffered multiple problems which are directly related to his tt. They could have been prevented if he'd had a frenotomy as a baby.

mawbroon im sorry to hear about your trouble

keep them coming ladies, inspire and enlighten

Its always darkest before the dawn

Just to print this poem and stick it to their fridge

by Diane Loomans

If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd build self esteem first, and the house later.
I'd fingerpaint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less and know to care more.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I'd do more hugging and less tugging.
I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often.
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I'd model less about the love of power,
And more about the power of love.

Stock the fridge with wine

Don't take all the credit and don't take all the blame.

To really understand what presses your buttons. Often the things our kids make us most angry about toucn on issues we've not resolved ourselves. If we can understand them, make sense of them, it opens up the door to either heal them so they go away or at least be aware of them so that when the buttons are pressed we can deal with them easier and keep it cool with the kids.

Don't press the red button.

Don't judge yourself too harshly or get into competitiveness.