to think life should change with a baby?

[broodylicious]

Seeing so many posts where tiny babies (newborns) are being left with grandparents while the new parents go off on date night or away for a weekend for "me time". What is wrong with just putting life on hold/adapting to being parents for a while? Why this incessant need for selfish time? Having children is a life changer, why have them if you just want to carry on as before?

I think it's an important life skill to learn to be happy in one's own company.

I can't wait PiperChapstick

Alas it also involves me performing in front of an audience of 500 but I'm looking at that as a small price to pay for staying in luxurious surroundings and going skating by myself at the rockafella centre

And yes, I will be getting absolutely twatted and loving every single minute of my delicious head banging hangover without my children climbing on me asking for breakfast/peppa pig/iPad/sweeties [delete as appropriate]

Alas it also involves me performing in front of an audience of 500

Shut the front door! And spill, I'm too intrigued now it's not a NYC visit unless you see a show on Broadway too

All your comments are laced with such judgement. Not everyone who is having a sociable time is having a drunk time!

^ What they said

Sing do you realise that not all 'time away from dc' involves drinking in the pub on a Saturday night?

I don't drink. My idea of quality time to myself is reading a book in a cafe. Shitty parent that I am.

I can't help but wonder how some of you would feel if your dh/dp announced that they needed time away from you for the sake of their emotional well being. Thank God my children know that my happiness is not dependent on their occasional absences

I would say go and enjoy yourself! We aren't army tacked at the hip as you seem to be

It also is good for DC to have contact with others not just you as being wrapped in cotton wool will mean they rebel later

sing the more you post the more judgemental and pompous you are actually coming accross

I'm late to the party with this one but I left DD with DM when she was 4 months old and went to a comedy club with DH. I cried all the 27 miles home when I dropped her off but by god was it good to have a night out and relax. She's 3 now but I still remember how good that night felt. Love her more than anything but I still need to be me.

You know, children are a choice. Have them or don't, have one, have ten, but if you're going to have them make the most of them. Some of you make having children sound like a complete nightmare which you wouldn't ever survive without a night off.

You actually make it sound as if parents should give up on having a life outside of children, which quite frankly is unhealthy.

I think maybe people are being a bit harsh on sing-song but I couldn't disagree with her more. She is commenting on extremes though.

When my nan was a young parent, extended families lived together or near each other so it was very normal for children to be looked after by family members and it wouldn't have been considered to be anything but normal. I consider us very lucky to have a similar set up with my family and friends but understand that this isn't the case for everyone and I don't know how things would be if we didn't have that support. We pay for baby sitters if need be but this is rare and usually if we are going out with all the adult family. Sometimes we even pay a babysitter so we can go to the gym together for an hour but I really don't think it makes us bad parents.

I am 100% comfortable with our set up and how are children are being brought up, I think we set a good example to them as we do a variety of things with and without them. Our life is by no means perfect but like everyone else we do the best we know how to!

I must have missed a couple of sings posts, those two highlighted on the last page actually make me maybe people aren't being that harsh after all!

I don't drink alcohol at all but doesn't stop me meeting my sis in the local pub on quiz night occasionally.

You remind me of those women who get a man then he becomes her whole life. Friends disappear and their identity is just as his parter/wife. Fuck that.

Having the odd break does absolutely no emotional damage to a child.
My DD went away for the weekend with my parents recently. Should I have told her she couldn't go because being away from me for 2 days would scar her for life? (even though I would've been at work anyway)

No. My child will grow up knowing that HER happiness is not dependant on anyone else.