Before I had kids I never understood...

[ellesabe]

...why it always took so bloody long for a family of four to get in/out of the car.

Surely you just put the kids in their seats and click the buckle in. Right?

Any more?

Why mums dragging round whiny tantrumming children in supermarkets seemed to do nothing to shut them up - and how could they ignore the poor heartbroken neglected little thing?? Now I understand they have simply lost the will to live, couldn't summon the energy to lick a postage stamp never mind control a small wild person kicking off, and sometimes tantrums are just best ignored anyway. Now I am that mum being judged for ignoring ds1 trailing after me down the aisle wailing - because he wasn't allowed to buy a two foot long Lightning McQueen.

Oh and yes to the fierce protective instincts and unconditional love you feel for the little terrors darling little things - I have never considered myself particularly brave and probably not brave enough to step in to help someone being mugged or leap into the road to rescue someone about to be hit by a car, but I would be the first to jump under a bus or offer up a kidney if needed for my kids.

I never understood how much I could love my baby, and really not care if she deprives me of sleep, ties me to the house, requires me to get my boobs out in public, screams if I try to shower or pee without her watching, and always has a meltdown the second I am about to eat a meal. I genuinely don't care about any of the downsides, I'm too busy feeling lucky that she is mine.

You may all be sick now....

Why bedtime was such a big deal. Just put the baby in the bed and voila. Job done.

I never understood people letting their dcs out in public in 'ensembles' that were 'eclectic', shall we say. Fast fwd a few years with me 8mo pregnant pushing a buggy with dd age 23 mo, around the woods on nov 2nd while she was dressed as a pumpkin

And many others already mentioned.

Leaving the house??
Watch this!!

I never understood why people would have to change DC into their jim jams to drive them home after coming round here for the evening.

Why parents sometimes left children to cry
Why little girls wear pink from head to toe (try getting dd into anything else some days!)

What do stay at home mums actually do all day and why on earth are they tired?!
Someone else mentioned leaving on the dot of 5 to get home from work. I mean we all stay if necessary, why can't they?!
Any many others already mentioned. Love this thread!

Why parents let their children run riot and couldn't stick them in a buggy. Now I've got a tantrumy 2 year old I understand lol

Why parents would nod distractedly and say 'hmm mm' when their children were talking. I used to think 'just LISTEN to your child' .

I must admit I still don't get why it takes people so long to leave the house with small children. Have never had that with either of mine. My aunt used to say that it would take her until lunchtime to leave the house with my cousin when she was a baby. Still don't get that.

Why would you give in to your child's demand for junk food anyway !!! Your the parent... Parent..... So so naive !

Why one parent sits in the back seat with a baby while the other drives on the motor way. Always thought it was some kind of misogyny.

the joy of silence

Guitar girl no I don't understand the problem with leaving the house in the morning either but didn't want to say in case I came across as smug

I never used to understand why parents would dress their kids in tacky clothes covered in Peppa/Dora/Minnie...

How mums just 'know' what to do from day 1. still not sure I know, just wing it some days and go to bed thankful he's still alive

How anyone could eat something that had been in a toddler's mouth. .

How anyone could understand what babies/toddlers were saying - I used to think it was amazing when a little kid said "bo!" and the mum/dad said "oh he wants a ride on the bus." Now I know the magical language!

Why my friends kitchen floors were all so grubby. Surely a quick vacuum would get rid of all the crumbs/dustbunnies/suspect crusty-looking detritus?

This^^

I didn't understand allowing kids to have toys and artwork in the living room and all over the place.....surely they should learn the whole house doesn't belong to them?

Why mums of little babies moan about having no time to do housework. It's a tiny baby! It can't even walk!

Ha ha...

That I would actually get my toddler to vomit over me rather than all over the carpet during a vomiting bug so as to avoid cleaning the carpet for the 356th time.

Does that sound dreadful?

How quickly they grow up. Everyone said it, and although I believed it, I didn't GET it.

Yes Not I recently gave birth and somehow he is 14 in a couple of weeks.

I understood NOTHING about life until I had a baby.

Great thread
I have too many to mention (loads mentioned here!) suffice to say I had NOT A CLUE before I had kids and the good thing is I am now much less judgey!

The leaving the house thing, this was a real morning for me.
Baby wakens at 7am. Changed baby then fed baby bottle of expressed milk. Gave baby toys and used breast pump to express next bottle, medical reasons baby exclusively fed expressed milk. Sterilise equipment. Dress baby then dress myself. Baby projectile vomits over bed clothes, me and himself. Change babies clothes, change my clothes, change bedding. Put on makeup. Look for dog's lead. Door goes it's a parcel. Find dogs lead. Realise forgot babies jacket, go back upstairs for jacket. Loose one of babies socks, find babies sock. Phone goes DH desperate for you to email him a document. Email DH. Get pram out of garage, smell baby has pooped. Go back to change baby. Realise baby will want fed again in 15 minutes so no point in leaving now. Try again later.