to have a little smile to myself

[blondefriend]

When I see new parents and think "you wait...".

I was in a coffee shop this morning on my own and there were 2 new mums at the next table having a typical coffee. Both babies slept for the majority of the time and only woke briefly to be fed and then fell back to sleep again. During this time both mums went on about how this was the hardest thing they had ever done.

I often have to go to the local hospital and pass the labour wards. There is often some woman in the corridor leaning on her partner, breathing slowly and saying something like "ooo, this is a bad one".

I always smile politely and think "hee hee".

Ah bless.

Yes, I do a little bit too... And then I look at parents of teens and I think, Oh Crap, what's to come?

Aww. Fat forward ten years when they are stuck on the sidelines of junior footy in minus temperatures they will look back all wistful at that stage.

*Fast

I see teeny babies with worried looking new mums. Ahhhh, I say to DS, as soon as they learn to talk, they lean to answer back.

I remember doing that. But the thing is, at the time, it was the hardest thing I'd ever done! It was a massive massive shock and the sleep deprivation and sore nipples were shocking too.

Fast forward two years and now I think the hardest thing I have ever done is look after a 2yo whilst working full time, studying for masters and being pregnant. But though it is hard it is fun and still doesn't really compare to shock of the newborn stage. Give them a break we've all been there!

My 2 year old dd kept hitting me and running away and laughing at my friends house recently, she was being a general pita. My friend is 6 months pg and I could see her thinking "my child will never do that" I know that because I thought the exact same thing myself

Eventually I took dd home and longed for the days I could take her somewhere and she'd just sleep through it... Unfortunately at the time I was too full of anxiety for my pfb that I didn't appreciate it!

Oh, YANBU

I love the posts on here from a mum with kiddies aged about 5 telling a mum of a 17 year old she'll never let her dc do that

wish it was the law they need to come back when junior reaches 17....

My mum laughed so hard she had tears running down her face, when I turned round to her and remarked the day after pfb was one, and said, "I've no idea what you were on about, this parenting thing is easy."

Eventually I worked out what she was trying to say between the gasps for breaths, "Teenagers" , hahaha.

Sorry mum, you were so right.

Oh yes! But for me, when I had DD1 I spent quite a lot of time in coffee shops while she slept quietly thinking 'Well this is quite easy...'

In fact the first three years with DD1 were very easy indeed. Shame about the terrible threes...

YABU (a bit). I do it too but I was in a state of utter shock after having DS. He's just turned two now and we have a newborn. I can't actually understand what the hell I was in such a state over - its absolutely weird and I'm annoyed at myself for not being more relaxed. I was literally fried. I an soooo loving newborn stage #2. It's heaven. Don't love her any more of course - just feel I can enjoy her more.