What is parenting like for you?

[MIstletAOU]

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

ooooh I like that roosmum. I'll tell db that - he's a big softie

I think how tiring and stressful you find it is going to depend on lots of different things though - how many children, how old, how supportive partner (if one at all), if you work and what those circumstances are, issues with the children (SN, whether they eat everything you give them, whether they sleep well). We can't really compare each others experiences because we are all in different scenarios.

I've got 3 under 5 and a freelance career from home so no wonder I'm exhausted. My SIL has one 4 year old dd who goes to nursery every afternoon and she works from home 2 hours a day - piece of piss, no?!

Good, but it makes me feel very inadequate a lot of the time...

Agree with Aloha though - my life is 100% happier now than before I had children, much calmer, much less manic, much less self-destructive. I owe my children far more than they could ever owe me.

You need a cleaner Gdg (have read other thread)

I would say stressful, exhausting and hard work, like most other posters here, but the funny things is, I would never want to be without them.

I think on a positive note, it makes you very selfless. The sheer selfishness (using that word in every sense) of childless people makes me both with anger and with jealousy!

miaou I actually have that dream sonetimes - finding a new room in my house, that I haven't found before, full of lovely things. do you? apparently it means that you have unfulfilled potential, which is apt.

yes I think it's fair that a lot is to do with the personality of the child/ren. I find dd1 just fabulous company and a delight to be with.
also, compared to my old job it is not that stressful tbh
and I feel like I am good at it and am in control most of the time
the lack of money I find more stressful

Someone said to me when I was pregnant that having a baby is everything. I think she was right. I feel every emotion all at once, positive and negative.

At the moment, fairly easy, quite relaxing, great fun, very rewarding and not really tiring at all. DS is 7 months old. However, reading musnet gives me the impression that things are going to get much more stressful and frantic in the years ahead so I am desperately trying to enjoy this easy, simple time before the rollercoaster begins.

Pablo - depends on your circumstances! Blimey though, when ds1 was 7 months old I have to say it was a doddle!! Not for everyone though at that stage - lots of friends had it tough but ds1 was a good sleeper and every easy going baby. Now I've got 2 more and ds1 isn't 5 yet - it's a whole different ball game (but entirely my choice of course!!!)

lazy

Neither of mine have been sleeping babies and ds is dyspraxic which can be frustrating. He cannot walk at anything approaching a normal pace for example (in fact, I find it physically impossible to walk at his pace - I often have to stop constantly and wait for him even if I creep along) and that is frustrating in the extreme! I do envy people who can say to their four year old 'put on your shoes and coat and we'll walk to the library' and it just happens. Oh! The freedom!

Harder than I thought - I could never have imagined myself screaming at my DS but I have done.

But I waited a long time for him and he was SO worth it.

He is 4 and very loving, generally easy (except when he's being a horror!).

And he was an easy baby too.

Am trying to decide if I want another! I'm 41 and it would be IVF.

I agree with the posters who say it's extreme in every direction. And also that although I get tired and irritable I am always undoubtedly happier than I was before.

lovely

knackering but fun !

Afraid I agree with dingdongmerrilyonHighlander. My life is no more happy with him than before I had him -just more up and down. I was a lot calmer and less erratic before. I do love him though and am finding him easier every month. The absolute worst part so far for me was age 3-6 months just when everyone says it gets easier. Also newborn stage was awful- still as I say it is getting better and easier every day. No more for me though - one baby is bad enough let alone a baby and a toddler.

Anna

At the moment I am enjoying it. At the moment.

It's also interesting that you put it in terms of 'parenting' rather than 'being a parent'. If I have the energy, and the support, and there is enough to do, I enjoy parenting. I don't always enjoy 'being a parent', as that implies the whole package complete with being drained and exhausted and never ever ever getting the opportunity to go out unless you sort out so much damn admin that the very prospect is so draining it puts you off. I do love my children though, to a rather inconvenient extent, rather like having your own veins opened.

fab

yes tiring and frustrating but less so than my life pre-kids tbh

easy

positive, I love it find it easily the best thing about my life
Easy for the most part too... I wing it, blag it and ride it

love that epiffany

'wing it, blag it and ride it'

must be new motto chez enid

beign ignorance

and sometimes I f**k it up spectacularly too

Wonderful and awful
Relentless
Draining
Rewarding beyond belief

dh said to me that he realised that parenting would be ups and downs, just not that you could have 10 ups and 10 downs in 5 minutes!