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

Bit soppy, but I would say kiss them. All the time. And hug them and squeeze them and generally nom on them, because there will come a time when they wont let you anymore

People only show what they want you to see - it's not plain sailing for anyone.

White chocolate buttons instead of dark chocolate - less mess

Do not buy them nice, expensive clothes and save them for "best". They will wear them once and then grow out of them and you will end up selling them for a £1 on e-Bay

Step back and watch

All babies cry, and some babies cry a lot.

It's not because you're doing anything wrong.

Sometimes, when a baby cries, it doesn't mean they are hungry, thirsty, cold, hot, wet, dirty or tired, as the books will tell you.

It also doesn't mean theyre inconsolably sad, incredibly ill or hate you. They're just crying.

Give them a cuddle and be reassured that this stage will pass.

Avoid bibs with days of the week on them. On the days when the baby has on the wrong bib you will feel that you cant even organise the bibs. On the only day when you get it right it will freak you out!

Don't listen to people saying you are spoiling them (babies that is!) just enjoy them, the more cuddles the better!!

Take each day as it comes and ty to enjoy it.

DO A PAEDIATRIC/ANY FIRST AID COURSE!

I don't usually shout.

You are the best teacher your child will ever have, they will model behaviour from you.

Remember...it's just a phase.

Start as you mean to go on.

If you want them to talk to you when they are teen then listen to them when they are five.

If you want your ten year old to have good table manners then insist on it when they are 3.

If you want them to cuddle you when they are older then cuddle them lots now.

I'll say the three that have already been mentioned

Pick your battles
Pick your battles
Pick your battles

I had never heard of this and life was so much easier when I understood it and put it in practise

I meant "grin"! One of these --->

Not gin, though that should be on free prescription.

I sodding hate these threads. They always make me feel like I'm getting everything wrong. Worrying about cleaning the house, and so am bad parent for not whiling away hours just watching them, looking after the baby so not able to play with toddler and feel i should be able to do both, effortlessly. Losing rag sometimes and not flying enough sodding kites. Sodding hate them.

You know your child better than any health visitor, mother-in-law or stranger on an Internet forum so trust your instincts!

Agree though don't necessarily remember to live by so many of these. But for me as when I was fighting so hard to bf DD1 - totally against all sense and detrimental to her and my health. Was told by one nurse, in the most wonderful, calm, gentle, reassuring manner: "Just feed you baby. Doesn't matter how. Just feed her".
My wonderful, funny outspoken HV said "Fishfingers, when you are going to her first ballet performance, her 5th birthday party, her first parents evening, her graduation, her wedding, you will not give one stuff what went into her gob when she was a baby. BF/FF - you will not care - it does not and will not matter in the big scheme of things."

Both were right. For DD moved to FF and we both began finally to thrive. A couple of years on with DS1 BF worked and was fine - (possibly because I was more relaxed). But in essence, my tip - sometimes it just doesn't work. Don't sweat it.

CBeebies is worth its weight in gold.

Your best is good enough

Ask for help if you need it.

Accept and embrace your child's personality for what it is. They are their own personalities from the get go.

Make your own decision and remember everyone else does tge same, neither should judge tge other, everyone just wants the best for their children.

Do whatever you need to get sleep.ANYTHING. Co-sleep, pay someone, beg your mum do what you have to but get some sleep. You can take on any problem if you've had a good nights sleep.

Fufulina. Just because MNers are giving advice doesn't mean they are following it themselves. If you like the house to be clean, clean the house. I think what a lot of people are saying is that you should try not to worry about things and you should do what suits you and your family, the kids will be fine. .

I feel irritable if the house is a mess so I have always liked to keep it tidy, this way I am more relaxed and a better and less shouty Mum..........