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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

110 replies

Katlow · 07/01/2020 14:47

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!

OP posts:
OneDay10 · 07/01/2020 16:59

There are just so many.

My ds 4 told me yesterday, 'Mama you are my special girl' . made me melt.

Bipbipbipbip · 07/01/2020 17:00

When my toddler grabs my head for a big slobbery kiss.
The way they hide behind you when they're worried or scared - you're their safe place.
When he laughs at his own farts.

Chocolateandamaretto · 07/01/2020 17:08

The way they look when they sleep (I know that sounds a bit odd but whenever I look in on my sleeping kids I feel like my heart might burst with love!)

bobstersmum · 07/01/2020 17:21

The age 2-3 is challenging but it's my favourite age, they are innocent but cheeky and so funny, and the cuddles at this age are the best!
I have a very tall almost 7 year old and he will randomly curl up in a ball on my knee and it just warms my heart, there is no love stronger than the love you feel for your children.

MaisieMolly · 07/01/2020 17:30

This is all so lovely, thank you to all the posters x

mbosnz · 07/01/2020 17:50

And they're not just cute and gorgeous when they're little, I'm loving the teenage years.

Silverservice1011 · 07/01/2020 18:25

Unconditional love. Mine just made me a birthday card with a 'secret' it says I am the best mum in the world Grin

nibdedibble · 07/01/2020 18:34

Oh so many things.

The very flesh of them, it's gorgeous, a lovely smooth new baby that you made and the smell is perfect.

Babies and children are hilarious, this is an undersung aspect of parenting: you do laugh a lot, at them (afterwards) and also with them. Making your own baby or child laugh feels like a superpower.

When they are a bit unwell and give you long afternoons of sleeping sat on your knee with their head resting on your heart and you can't move, all you can do is nurture and love them better. I actually nearly started crying as I typed that, mine are teens now and there's no way I'll ever feel that physical closeness to them again. (I miss them as little children!)

When they start to have their own opinions about things and you realise they are thoughtful and kind. It won't be every time but sometimes they are just lovely and it makes you melt.

I could probably go on forever but this has got me quite emotional so I'll stop!!

Keewee27 · 07/01/2020 18:42

Cuddles, baby giggles, watching them learn new things - ds2 is 5 and is learning to read at the moment. It's amazing how he's picked it up! Watching ds2 play with his lego and make up stories with them.
The pride when ds1 plays football or swims.
Their sense of humour and what they find funny - mainly anything about bodily functions right now! Grin
When either one says that they love me!
Boys are great!
Good luck ttc, op. It's amazing being a parent!

willowmelangell · 07/01/2020 19:05

It is a magical mystery tour.
From the moment they are placed in your arms, so perfect. You count their fingers and toes over and over. How did your body produce such a perfect little human being?
You experience overwhelming feelings. The first time you take them out in a pram. Waves of protective emotions. The hot, the cold, strangers with their germs, the kerb is too bumpy, the lights too bright...Arrgh and then someone says, "Oh what a beautiful baby!"
And then they smile and gurgle at you. You.

You will hold your breath as you see them try to lift their tummy off the floor. Arms and knees wobbly, rocking and whoosh! The start of crawling.
The first time you put them in a seat swing. The amazement in their face.
Rainbows. Animals. Leaves. Rain. All become new and wonderful.
The incredible way they fit into your body. First in your arms, then on your hip, then arms around your neck, then on your shoulders....
And when they are about 24 years old they start buying YOU dinner. That was a shock!
If you didn't have grumpy times you would never appreciate the laughing til tears came times.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 07/01/2020 19:23

How much they love you and you them.

Their simple innocence and how easy it is to please them. Today I gave 3 yr old DS 6 raisins, he beamed and said "Oh mummy you spoil me!"

riotlady · 07/01/2020 19:42

Little toddler tummies poking out of their pyjamas!

CigarsofthePharoahs · 07/01/2020 19:43

Cuddles. Above everything else, the cuddles.
When ds2 was born, ds1 found things hard but settled into being a big brother well. He was 3.
Ds2 was a velcro baby and I have a clear memory of having to put him in his little bouncy chair for a call of nature. He immediately started howling. Then I heard ds1 "Don't worry ds2, I'm coming, I'm coming!" and then he spent several minutes gurning at ds2 whilst I was otherwise occupied.
It was just so darned sweet!
Then there was the time a few years later ds1 decided it would be fun to sleep in the lounge. School holidays, so we said ok.
DH woke up to hear ds1 crying and then he heard ds2 saying "Don't cry ds1, don't be scared. It's ok. It's ok."
Ds1 was scared of the dark.
Everything the do... even when they're being totally incorrigible.

SugarNyx · 07/01/2020 19:47

Even when mine is throwing a wobbler I find him hilarious, they’re so loving and sweet and innocent.

rhowton · 07/01/2020 19:48

The first year is hideous! It is so hard and you rarely get a sense of well-being and satisfaction!! THEN they start to talk and walk and are generally the biggest, funniest angels in the world! Yes, they are still arseholes but then they also cup your face and kiss you so all is forgiven!

db92 · 07/01/2020 19:49

The smile when they wake up and see you. The first giggles. The immense amount of pride you feel when they do something new. And the smell. By god that baby smell would make millions of bottled.

My little one is 4months and it's been hard if course. But it's been the best 4 months of our lives

rhowton · 07/01/2020 19:50

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland that made me smile! Toddlers are just so funny!

rhowton · 07/01/2020 19:53

Oh and my favourite thing to happen... I was telling my husband off (playfully) for getting in the way of making dinner. My 2 year old runs in the kitchen, shouts "Mummy, you're bossy" and ran out again! I was so shocked but DH and I were in stitches! I also sneezed upstairs and she rang in from her play room and said "Bless you, Mummy" and ran back out... also, a theme... kids run EVERYWHERE 😂

Tombliwho · 07/01/2020 19:55

They're so cute when they're little and come out with random little things that make you smile. Like my two year old will say "you did it muma!" and give me a high five over random stuff like flushing the toilet Grin makes you feel like you're totally winning life.
As they get bigger they become really interesting people in their own right. My 7 year old is currently obsessing over his business plan to run a pizza restaurant when he is a grown up. I've taught him about profit and needing to pay wages and he is mortified haha
It's hard work but it's fun being a parent. You get to watch humans growing up and changing from little helpless peanuts to proper people

CoffeeAndDryShampoo · 07/01/2020 20:02

My 4yo DS is like my own little cheerleader, "Good girl mummy, you ate all your dinner" or "Well done mummy, you're very brave!" when he sees me washing my hair. Adults never say those things to me! 😂

thebearwentoverthebumble · 07/01/2020 20:09

I left my 7 month old for a minute this morning while I had a wee. I walked back in to the living room and saw he was carefully studying my phone and was about to give it a good suck. I jumped dramatically and said "what do you think you're doing" he literally threw it in the air and laughed his head off. He definitely knew he was being naughty!
Also I just have to say the word "cluck" and he is in hysterics he makes me feel like a comedian.

redexpat · 07/01/2020 20:12

When you go to collect them and their faces light up when they see you.

You learn about their interests. I now know how a steam engine works.

You can blame them for your farts.

Crispyturtle · 07/01/2020 20:15

My life contains so much more joy than at any point before I had children. I had a nice life pre-DC, did lots of fun things, no real problems, but I don’t remember ever feeling genuine joy. Now I feel it every day. I laugh out loud every day. I feel heart-popping love every day. I feel insanely proud every day. The love is unreal. We’ve had hard times and I wasn’t brilliant at being a mum to a newborn, but my DC have made my life, without a shadow of a doubt.

Notsure94 · 07/01/2020 20:20

Your body has the ability to make a person. It's like a superpower! I remember being in awe of how my body, this (pregnant) mass of flesh knows how to do a whole bunch of stuff without me thinking about it or doing anything, and if you give birth vaginally the pushing stage is another mind-blowing experience. All being well your body takes over. Nothing like it. Making a family means creating interesting decent human beings. That's rewarding.

IdentifyasTired · 07/01/2020 20:35

There's so much to love about it. My personal favourites are holding my newborns while they sleep, watching them take their first steps, all the cuddles. As they get older their opinions and thoughts becoming so fascinating, these full, complex whole humans that I grew inside me!
Motherhood has been the making of me. I am a better person for it. I've grown emotionally, mentally and spiritually because of it. I hope your experience is just as positive OP.