AIBU to ask you all the lovely things about having kids are?

[Katlow]

So, me and my husband are TTC.
Very scared, very excited.
I'm posting here for traffic really, I just want to hear some of the good parts of parenting. I've been reading a lot of negative things today and it's scaring me a little bit!

New baby = squishy cuddles and happy with that
Toddler = learning new stuff all the time and making you laugh
Primary school = sensible and delightfully silly conversation
Senior school = interesting things to think about and watch turning into adults
Young adult = amazing friend + interesting things, silly conversations, new stuff and laughs and very occasionally still fantastic cuddles.
Love, pride, amazement. Worth every sleepless night, tantrum and heartache.

I should not have read this thread 😭😭😭
It's all so true. A little combination of you and your partner who can make you laugh (or cry) in an instant ❤

When they are older and you see them do something lovely for no reason other than they are decent people. A couple of weeks ago I saw one of my sons (late teens) go over and help the little girl next door untangle her bike from the hedge. Back in the summer I saw my other son (also late teens) help a lady pick up shopping she'd dropped from a bag that broke. When you see them acting with good manners to everyone and think "You're turning out all right!" it makes you smile inside.

Today's warm fuzzy moment happened in Aldi,

I was putting stuff in the trolly when DD (aged 2) said in a urgent voice mummy mummy come here. I went over to her and asked what up, where she touched my cheek and said I love you mummy.

I love the random affection that children bring it's honestly the best feeling ever

Every time he curls his little hand around my finger my heart just soars

*You can serve fishfingers whenever you fancy.

Oxytocin- the love hormone. You get this in spades especially if breastfeeding but also in general. Like a sort of rush. www.healthline.com/health/love-hormone#emotions

Their cuddles and their giggles/laughter are the best feeling in the world. Natural opiates!
Their incredible wonder at the ordinary every day world makes you see the world afresh.
They give you an excuse to have fun and play again: build sandcastles and river dams, go on mini steam trains and fairground rides, run through fountains on hot days, splash in puddles, build Lego houses and snowmen, dance in the kitchen and play catch with balloons.
They say 'Mummy you are beautiful' when your skin is grey from 2 hours sleep and you are wearing your dad's old sweatshirt.
No one loves you like your children do, and ime, I have never felt love like I feel for my children.
They make you a better person. More patient, more resilient, more accepting, braver, stronger (physically as well as emotionally - lifting toddlers is a great workout)
They get you mixing with people you'd never have met before, just because they happened to have children the same year as you.
They say such cute, funny things.
As they get older, they keep you curious about the world, introducing you to new music and fashion and foods and interests.

Having children was definitely the best thing I have ever done.

My son has just turned two and makes me laugh every single day, usually unintentionally. He is caring, coming to check 'are you OK mummy?' and stroking my hair. He's growing up which makes me so proud when he does things by himself, but then when he's under the weather he will still insist on crawling in my bed and hold on to me so tight. It is tough, sometimes multiple times a day, but I wouldn't change a thing about him. It's an overwhelming, unbreakable love for a child.

It's a love you never even realised existed.
I love watching DS play, smile, grow, I love seeing him develop and his personality grow.
I love the cuddles he gives me and the kisses.
He's the most affectionate little boy I've ever known.
He is my life, my universe. I just love him so much it's unconditional love 🌎

Mine is 11 months and it's been bloody awful between reflux, allergies, complete milk refusal for 7 months, still wakes 5-10x a night and doesnt eat solids. I have felt like I was going to die (now medicated for depression) from the stress.

But I wouldn't change him for the world. I'm co sleeping with him unplanned, and I love every minute of it, when he snuggles into me, when he wakes me up at 5.30am (for the day) giggling to himself while crawling out of bed, the way he takes up a full double mattress by himself (how?!). I love his cheeky little cheeks, or when he totters over to give me a kiss (he presses his open mouth against my face gently, I'm counting it lol), or when he brings me things to play with or shoves things in my mouth (in case I'm also teething?). His little xmas tree decorations or artwork he makes at nursery are pretty much my most prized possessions lol.

There's just nothing else like it.

I’ve got 4 with 1 on the way. A few days ago I woke to this hanging outside my bedroom door from my 12 year old DD ❤️

Honestly there are soo many lovely things that make even the hardest parts all worthwhile!

Them being young adults and marveling at how much they've learnt and how bloody clever and amazing they are. I listen to my scientist daughter and my (technical humanities?) daughters and most of the time I don't have a clue what they're on about, but they do and that's amazing.

And they still cuddle me as they always did. And we have our in jokes and our sillinessess.

The love you have for a child is like no other. Luckily, it's that love that gets you through the difficult times (for me it's the lack of sleep).

They are funny, cute and innocent and watching them explore the world is magical.

When they cuddle you and tell you you are the bestest Mummy in the whole world, just melts your heart.

When they tell their friends my Mum makes the best cakes and you smile because you know very well you don't.

When they tell you Mummy you are beautiful and it makes you feel special.

The huge pride you feel when they do or say something kind or clever.

Being a Mum is the best feeling in the whole world.

Newborns nuzzling into your neck to sleep.
The toughest, most independent 6 year old still falling asleep on your shoulder.
The way everything fascinates them (potatoes with sprouting eyes, blown light bulbs, everything!)
The questions and how they view the world.
The absolute trust.
The excitement for everything.
All the firsts.
The one to one chats walking to Asda, at any age from 2-14.
Being able to make their world better.
Seeing them grow into their personalities.

They are so very warm, like a little hot water bottle that hugs you

When they rest their hands on your knee like you are an extention of them and/or for a touch of reassurance

Baby cuddles
Watching them develop & learn new things
Pride at having made them
When they are big enough to proactively give you cuddles & tell you they love you

I don’t waste the day anymore, although I would love a lie in one day, we are up and out most days and it makes me feel mentally better.
Love children’s innocence and their wonder for the world around them. Before they go to school they are truly under your influence, I’m dreading that changing!

They can be so funny! Things they do, things they say. Can always put a smile on your face.

No one else can make you scream in frustration one minute and then have you cuddling and kissing them the next.

Be prepared for the overwhelming emotions. Sometimes just watching my ds doing something will make me want to cry (in a good way). I’m dreading the first nativity play!

Always having company. When I’m not at work, I’m with my ds. He’s come with me to appointments etc.

They change your world forever, and it’s hard work but nothing is more rewarding then having those chubby little arms thrown around you and being told ‘you’re my best girlfriend today’

I know you're coming up on the newborn stage right now, but I am absolutely loving the tween/teen period happening right now. I have a DS 13, and a DD 12, and they are awesome...so funny, sarcastic, and I love talking to them. I also love time with my girl, shopping, playing makeup (I was never a girlie girl, but she's bringing that side out in me!). My big, hulking 13 year old still tries to sit on my knee for a cuddle, which makes us die laughing... He's nearly as big as me! But he's so sweet and loving, I'll never deny him. I love that they're starting to form opinions about politics and religion, it's amazing to hear them trying to process the world from their perspective, and I love talking to them. Of course, DS is also game obsessed, and DD loves you tube, so sometimes they do my head in, but overall, I am delighted with this stage. It goes really, really fast, OP... it will be exhausting and relentless, but once that bit is over, it gets so good!

having a child is like seeing the world in colour for the first time. It's awesome and the greatest love you will ever know.

i love how as mine are getting older we are friends as well as family.

Tiny children who love in the biggest of ways.
The enthusiasm of toddlers that is so openly expressed.
The imagination of primary age children that is better than any book.
Teenagers who develop this amazing sense of justice and let everybody know it.
Adult children who know your imperfections as a parent and still think you were the best mum ever.

Every time my 9mo sees me, I could have left his sight for a minute, he looks so happy and does the biggest smile :) He also gives me so so so many lovely tight cuddles around my neck right out of the blue. Being a mum is by far the most difficult thing I've ever experienced but all the little good things really keep you going.