The three best things about being a parent? :)

[JillAskey]

Thoughts?

1. When my DD gives me a hug and a kiss
2. Watching her together with DH - he's her biggest fan
3. When she giggles and/or shouts (literally shouts) with laughter

Three? Hmmm.....

• Good excuse to revisit panto, the seaside, Monster Munch and other forgotten childhood pleasures.
• You can trot out things like 'I'm not made of money', 'that's not music, it's just noise' and 'there are starving children in Africa that would be glad of that cabbage' with gay abandon
• Keeping up old traditions like Santa and making up new ones.

this is great guys! keep 'em coming :) - love the good excuse to revisit panto, and making up new traditions, you can often re-live being a kid again

1. Giving them the Quality street chocs I hate and them thinking I am the bestest mother ever.

1. When DS1 runs up and shouts "Guess what....." and tells me something that has his entire face beaming shining with joy.

1. When my youngest who is naughty little monkey is fast asleep looking angelic and I kiss his chubby cheek and tell him I love him and in his sleep he mumbles "I know."

(These mostly apply to small children - haven't got experience yet with bigger ones.)

1. Sneaking into their bedroom at night time and watching them sleep.

1. Being gobsmacked and delighted when they reach a milestone / learn to do something new.

1. Being able to play with train sets, play doh, lego and cuddly toys.

Also agree with MamaMary - watching DH with DD is heartmeltingly lovely.

Looking forward to DD being older and experiencing what Cogito and Pancake say :)

Actually I had a nice one the other evening when I had to work on something late into the night rather than flopping in front of the telly having quality time with DS. He announced that he wouldn't go to bed until I'd finished so that he could make me cups of tea and give moral support. Let's add therefore

• Random acts of unprompted kindness.

SO SWEET :)

Pancakeflipper, number 3 on your list just made me go all gooey! How lovely.

ds is only 16mo so I expect the best is yet to come but so far:

1. his massive open mouth kisses
2. the way he claps himself enthusiastically when he knows he is being clever
3. watching him sleeping and feeling my heart literally swelling with the overwhelming love I have for him.

:)

Dd1 getting dd2 out of cot and playing with her so I can have a lie in

Dd1 reading unprompted to dd2

Watching dd's playing nicely together despite 5 year age gap.

Realise it sounds like dd1 is doing the parenting but she loves to mother sister and its not often which is why it makes me proud as it is showing her trying to be considerate

Cuddles with DS, that feeling of small arms round your neck!

The ability to be a child again, and go down slides, play silly games etc.

Knowing that despite the fact you are taken for granted, you are the most important person in your child's life, at least for a few years.