Happier before or after?

[Putthebiglighton]

Kids, if you have any?

Definitely after. My daughter is everything to me 💜.

It is hard but so worth it.

After... most definitely.

Definitely after. First year was hard though!

After without a doubt. And there's been days when I wonder this myself but always the conclusion is after.

Different happy.

After, though happy is a difficult word because I don’t believe it should be something you can feel all the time it’s just not possible. More content, satisfied with my lot perhaps is more accurate.

Happier the older i get, I'd be happier than I was in my 20s in either case however I really do think children have made me much happier than I would be without them

After.

After, the world was never in full colour until my DD was in it.

3d life vs 2d life for me

After I have a 16 yr old and 7 yr old
Tbf I don't remember what life was like before but they are my world 😀

Happy before and after.

My kids are amazing human beings but I was wonderfully happy before I had them.

Definitely after. My DC are wonderful

I was happy in different ways both before and after. It changes everything I do miss before happy sometimes but grass always seems greener on the other side.

Blissful before. Deeper more complete happy after

Definitely after. Especially having my eldest, it's corny but he gave me a purpose in life. Don't get me wrong, I look forward to the day my children fly the nest for their own lives, but being a parent was the piece of myself I didn't even know that was missing. Life before was pretty rubbish.

I can also absolutely understand how it's not for everyone though. I don't agree with the idea that anyone's life isn't complete without children. It's definitely a very individual thing.

Happier before.

A better person after

Urgh. I don't know how to answer this. I was unhappy before DD because I was so desperate for a child after a miscarriage but being a mother has made me so miserable even though I would die for her. I'm just not cut out for motherhood. I was certainly more relaxed before. I think my overall answer would have to be "before" if I'm being completely honest.

Before 😔

Really happy before, wonderful experiences. Then little one came along and my life had new meaning. Different happy so I feel very lucky to be living my life

@Strokethefurrywall

Happy before and after.

My kids are amazing human beings but I was wonderfully happy before I had them.

This, exactly. My life was already 3D.

Before. But my toddler is autistic and I worry about my baby too. It's been a crappy year! I had a great life before and I miss it.

I don't know jf it's made a difference to overall happiness levels. It's comparing apples and oranges. Before, I was happy about different things and worried about different things. I prioritised different things. Now, my happiness is contingent on my kids being happy, but I take joy in their joy, so opportunity for happiness is also greater...

I really don't know.

Both - for different reasons. But I didn't think I was happy before having my DS as I was desperate for children. If only I could go back in time and have a word with myself!

Happy before, happy after.
I can’t really compare my pre and after kids life tbh but I had a horrible childhood so loved being an adult and away from that and then becoming a Mum