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?

sharon that all sounds very familiar. DS1 v sicky baby so I had to take a spare change of clothes for myself everywhere.

Sharon, that made me laugh (sorry) because it's so familiar, thankfully mostly behind me now as have toddler. Love the fact you are still doing makeup though! Well done!

A bit of peace in the evening.

My 15y has gone up to her room, 12y is still taking up the entire sofa.

I never understood, pre-kids, how you can split into two distinct people whilst in the same body.

For example, out on a walk with a small person. The Outside person is saying "Yes DS2. It's a R. Well done! Yes, that's a O. And that's an A too! Clever you. Oh yes, I see the D. No, I didn't forget the D. Yes I am a silly-billy. It says ROAD. Shall we move on? It's just, we've only walked twenty yards and it's taking rather a long time, isn't it?". The Inside person, however, is shouting "FOR GOD'S SAKE!! WE DID THIS YESTERDAY!! I NEED TO GET STUFF FROM THE SHOPS BEFORE THEY SHUT!! COME ON!! WHY DO WE HAVE TO READ THIS EVERY DAY?"

How handy it is having a dog when weaning a baby as it saves you having to clean the kitchen floor.

Due to all of the above I have neither the energy nor the memory skills to namecheck you all. Suffice to say I am "Yessing" to all of these (apart from the lucky 2 who can get out of the house relatively unscathed).

Brilliant posts.

I never understood why parents let their children watch so much tv, drink anything other than water or buy them tat to keep them quiet.

I too have a bitter bitter laugh.

Due to all of the above I have neither the energy nor the memory skills to namecheck you all. Suffice to say I am "Yessing" to all of these (apart from the lucky 2 who can get out of the house relatively unscathed).

Brilliant posts.

I never understood why parents let their children watch so much tv, drink anything other than water or buy them tat to keep them quiet.

I too have a bitter bitter laugh.

I never understood how a teenager would be embarrassed by their own parent. FFS, if you were a GOOD parent, they wouldn't care less. If you don't make any effort and are happy to make your child uncomfortable, it's your own fault.

1. I had clearly forgotten my teen years (which is crazy).

2. I say this knowing DD1 would run under a bus instead of talk to me in public, and DD2 will regularly, if I start talking, say 'so, when's AMY getting here, I mean you're HER mum.'

Great thread.

I have four children and find myself less judgemental with each one.

I didn't understand and don't still but it is how I feel how my other children have become even more precious and loveable when I have had another. More children in my experience has made each one more precious.

Why parents couldn't just tidy up as the child makes a mess instead of leaving it all til the end of the day (or in some cases not even bothering then) - little did I know that DC's can make a mess so much faster than a parent can ever hope to tidy!

Also why parents couldn't just tell their DC not to shout! I mean how hard is that?? typing whilst DS is shouting at top of lungs "mummy" just for the fun of it

Also never understood how friends could leave a nappy in the inside bin, it's disgusting .... Then I realised that unless its a nuclear poo what difference does a bit more wee in the house make!

How loud people's houses with DCs were. I used to get stressed just being in them, cartoon blaring.

Now I have two DCs the noise level is pretty constant.

I never knew just how many (the majority of) single parents get no childcare support at all! Also what a pitiful amount the NRP pays on average for their offspring. I also naively thought teenagers would be the largest group of single parents

A lot of things-

• why it takes so long to go shopping
• the importance of different nappy sizes lol
• the meaning of multitasking
• the meaning of unconditional love
• real pain! And real tiredness (my second labour was 12 days lol)
• why mums sometimes walk around talking to themselves or talk to normal adults like thier babies (used to really bug me but I do it all the time now)

My childless colleague has expressed strong opinions on almost all of the above, and takes great pleasure in advising all of us parents in the office on what we should be doing.

She is now pregnant with her first baby, I am fascinated to see how her 'brilliant' advice works out for her.

Why someone would stop in the middle of a phone conversation to talk to their DC ('so anyway, then I said to her - oh yes dd, that is a lovely picture') - why couldn't said DC see that their mother was on the phone and wait??

How a tiny baby could possibly take up so much time. I even remember uttering the phrase 'but they sleep during the day, don't they?'

'when I have kids, they won't even know what chocolate tastes like until they are at least two.'

HAHAHA

I actually said that when I was pregnant.

Why parents couldn't keep their kids quiet

Why parents were "so boring and tired all the time"

I learnt my lesson fast

Agree with everything especially sharond101 you have just described my day!

Mine are very embarrassing, I'm hoping I wasn't expressing my misinformed opinions loudly.

1. why bother breast feeding when formula is so much easier.

2. breast feeding beyond 6 months is gross (thank you mother for instilling that one into me!)

3. your baby doesn't sleep through at 3 months? Clearly your doing something wrong.

Thankfully dd came along and put me straight

I love the two separate personalities one!

Why you would want to eat in a pub with a climbing frame etc outside. How ghastly. Children should be sat at the table learning table manners.

Yep, having kids knocked all the judgeyness out of me...

Why would you possibly use a dummy to quieten down a child? Don't you know how hard it will be to take it off them?

How can the housework pile up? Surely you do it while they're napping?

I was an arse.

F all to be honest.

Why can't the kids be quiet? Why can't the parent stop them having tantrums? Why don't they eat what they are given? Why are they whiney? Why is their house a tip? Why are so many parents resorting to wine?

I am very sorry for all the judging I have done and it has truly come back to bite me on the bum.

I now understand:
1.True exhaustion

1. Running up your own and meeting yourself coming backwards
2. It doesn't matter if he doesn't like carrots, he likes peas and that is a small victory.
3. How far food can fly (potato cake thudding against a window), crayons, paint e.t.c.
4. How little people will have a tantrum for the most miniscule reason that I am powerless to prevent.
5. Wine
6. How Num Tums and Small Potatoes are the greatest sanity savers ever.

I could go on.

why toddlers have to eat lunch between 11.30 and 12 noon or they throw massive tantrums.

what sleep deprivation meant.

I thought I had it all sussed before having children too. I was super smug.
Then I had children of my own....my smugness bit me hard on the backside.