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Original poster

What is parenting like for you?

115 replies

MIstletAOU · 06/12/2005 11:35

What was the first thing that popped into your head when you saw the thread title? Positive or negative - all views are valid.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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mazzystar · 06/12/2005 11:36

bloody hard work

handlemecarefully · 06/12/2005 11:37

"Tough" - that was the first thing that popped into my head.

But a more considered response includes rewarding, enjoyable at times etc

harpsiheraldangelssing · 06/12/2005 11:37

completely bloody wonderful and freeing and lifechanging and fulfilling
today
ask me again tomorrow

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DingDongMerrilyOnHIGHLANDER · 06/12/2005 11:38

pretty wank TBH. But getting better every day, espec now DS is walking. But I will never* do this again. Even more horrible and miserable than I thought it would be.

DissLocated · 06/12/2005 11:38

Fantastic. But also thought I probably wouldn't post that incase people thought I was being smug!

OComeOliveFaithfOil · 06/12/2005 11:39

hard work but mainly rewarding.

But I did rant at dh the other week at 4am when dd2 woke me up again that 'I wish I wasn't a ** mum, why did we bother?' .

It depends how much sleep I have had!

x

colditz · 06/12/2005 11:40

grind, relentless grind.

Furball · 06/12/2005 11:40

I first thought bloody hard as well (sitting here typing away in a house all on my own!!!)then the next thought was emotional (in a nice way)

Original poster
MIstletAOU · 06/12/2005 11:41

DissLocated - note I haven't posted my own opinion yet!

OP posts:
SnowmAngeliz · 06/12/2005 11:42

I love it.
I also think it's MUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHH more tiring than i could have imagined but so worth it.
I feel like i've found my place in life and i wouldn't have beleived that before as i was always very deep and beleived i needed to be a full circle before trying to create something to 'complete' me. Now i realise that i was far too deep and should have not listened to the Smiths so much

Or maybe i was, what was it?, self actualising??/

nailpolish · 06/12/2005 11:42

'draining' is what pops into my head

but one minute of love and cuddles makes up for a hundred hours of bloody hard work

DissLocated · 06/12/2005 11:43

I await with bated breath!

thecattleareALOHing · 06/12/2005 11:43

Hard, joyful, exhausting, amazing, frustrating, statisfying...
Without doubt the most fantastic thing I have ever done, but yes, tiring and stressful at the same time. It's an extreme experience, I find.

mazzystar · 06/12/2005 11:44

but hard work is its own reward (or some other new puritanical thing like that)

Original poster
MIstletAOU · 06/12/2005 11:44

Angeliz, that's really interesting. I never throught I would be any good as a mother because I wasn't very good at being "me".

OP posts:
thecattleareALOHing · 06/12/2005 11:45

And even though I get cross and tired and frustrated every day, I am now, I think, a happy person which I don't think was as true before. I never get really gloomy any more. I am so proud of them.

harpsiheraldangelssing · 06/12/2005 11:45

c'mon miaou spill....

Original poster
MIstletAOU · 06/12/2005 11:47

My stance is not that exciting, Diss, honest! But it is a thoroughly positive one so I was a bit shy of posting it at first in case I sounded a bit smug. I have always wondered if I come across a bit "rose-tinted glasses" to people though. If I had seen the thread title (as opposed to posting it ) the first word that would have entered my head would have been "fun".

OP posts:
shepherdswatchedtheirflockets · 06/12/2005 11:48

This reply has been deleted

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NoRoosmumAtTheInn · 06/12/2005 11:50

i like aloha's 'extreme', that's a great word for it.

for me it's def full of extremes, emotionally & physically. there's NOTHING like the joy i feel at ds & NOTHING like the exhaustion of night after sleepless night - or the frustration of him not eating, or the excitement of seeing him if i've been out for a few hours, or the aching happiness of a good cuddle...you get the gist i'm sure!

hardest thing i've ever done tho.

zzzzz - sleep deprived!

Original poster
MIstletAOU · 06/12/2005 11:52

My db's first baby is due anytime now and he is really excited. I was trying to explain to him how I felt when I first held dd1. I said it was like opening a door to a room that you never knew existed, in the house where you have lived all your life. I quite like that !

OP posts:
DissLocated · 06/12/2005 11:53

I think I enjoy it so much because my dd is a joy and really easy to look after. She eats well, sleeps well and is a really happy child. I'm not sure how much is down to my parenting and how much is down to her inate personality. We're hoping to have another next year and I try not to be too smug about dd just incase we tempt fate and get a demon child next time!

Blondeinlondon · 06/12/2005 11:56

awful!

Glitterygook · 06/12/2005 11:56

First response - stressful
Considered response - er, stressful

Stressful and exhausting are the two negatives. The positives do outweigh these though - it's very rewarding and it can be great fun. Despite how tired and fed up I feel right now I wouldn't change it for the world - they boys are fab, gorgeous, bright and never cease to amaze me and make me smile.

NoRoosmumAtTheInn · 06/12/2005 11:56

miaou, i read somewhere that the decision to have a child meant meant forever having your heart walking around outside your body.

it put a lump in my throat at the time & still does. but in a good, intense kind of way