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

But also, you are not alone and whatever is going in, someone else is going through it too por has been through it, so get on MN and feel better!

In? On!

Celebrate your failures too, you make more friends that way

Share them with your dp/ Dh. Tell them about your dc's day and help them to build confidence. Think before your criticise their parenting abilities as this will end in tears

Don't listen to any advice, it's your own journey

Don't blink! Times passes so quickly and before you know it they will be grown ups themselves.

Having a child doesn't make you an expert. Just because something works for you doesn't mean it will work for everyone else dear DB and SIL

And all the much nicer things that people have shared!

A couple of things.

Children really do grow up faster than you could ever imagine when they are small. Treasure their childhood (even the bad moments!) because you won't get a second chance.

Secondly, there's not a child yet who has conformed, to the letter, with a parenting manual. So don't mistrust your instincts in favour of the written word. Especially when it has been written by someone who has never had children!

I have three...

If you say no, then mean it

Pick your battles

And for gawd's sake never nurse a baby to sleep. Let them learn to settle themselves! Ds1 would feed to sleep, and although a good sleeper once off, I had to commit an hour and more to settle him once we stopped bf-ing. And he would never sleep in the day unless we were in the car! I made a conscious effort not to do this with dd and ds2 and they would sleep anywhere anytime.

Your baby is not going to be traumatised if they cry for 30 seconds while you are having a wee / making a sandwhich / getting youe first drink of water in 6 hours so it's ok to put them down and let them cry for a short time. (am forever grateful to my HV for that pearl of wisdom)

Get a Nanny.

Never get too complacent or too desperate. Whatever your child is doing, it's just a phase.

Alwsys look at your child sleeping at night; just to remind yourself that they are not always little monsters!.

Your mother was right

The best thing you can give anyone is your time. Don't forget dads.

No one cares who made your pushchair.

Read to your child! Speak your child!

Have batteries on stand by for birthdays and Christmas

Oh, and a final one. You can't spoil a baby. Fact.

Don't make promises you can't keep (or have no inention of).

Children have opinions too.

Your kids are changing so fast...don't try to stay on top of everything. Just watch.

we're all inconsistent, just accept it

as long as you love your kids and are loved back, nothing else matters

Don't listen to your mother if she's crap!

Trust your instincts first - they're rarely wrong.

Even if you do 'cave' occasionally on the discipline front it's more than likely that your kids will grow to be good people as long as your overall ethos is sound.

Just cos you think the sun shines from your children it doesn't mean everyone else will.

You will need to fight on their behalf from time to time: gird yourself to stand strongly in their corner when it's needed.

That your children are wonderful and all-absorbing, but don't forget who you are, what you like and what you feel.

You will do stuff you never thought you would and feed them stuff you never thought you would.

Look after yourself.

remember-this too will pass

My advice would be not to post in AIBU when the thread should be in chat.

Get a cleaner

Don't underestimate small children or forget that teens are still children.

Especially true of my two. The outwardly scatty one is wise way beyond her years and her very academic younger sister needs reassurance you would not expect.

Both need lots of hugs