What are your unexpected joys of parenthood?

[milkyman]

Today I skipped and sang down Sainsbury's aisles with my 2yr ds. Life doesn't really get any better.

Hearing DD giggle at something I've done - and wondering why she finds it so hysterical!
Watching her sleep - mostly as it confirms she does sleep sometimes.
Seeing her learn new things every day

Talking with DS about anything and everything, figuring out simple ways to explain to him how the world works (he's 2.3 and in non-stop chat mode)

Waking up next to DD and finding her little arm stretched out to me from her crib, every single night

I had a rather crappy and joyless childhood, being a mum is like getting to be a kid all over again, I love it!!

This is a nice thread. I'm suffering with PND and finding it hard to see the good bits. Hopefully I'll have these moments like you soon.

Listening to 23mo DD singing the lyrics of countless songs...she's done it for months and it amazes me that she really listens hard and remembers them all. Not sure how much she understands of course...

Anyfucker

When my 6mo DD smiles or laughs at me, especially when I'm so tired as she sleeps badly. And when she's cranky but will only have a cuddle from me. She cuddles right in and I love it.

Splendide

Watching clouds again and sneaking out with DS to see the stars at night.

Holding hands - who knew it could feel so good?

Watching ds learn something new. He is 16 months and just learnt to give kisses so he keeps walking over to me for more kisses. Lovely.

When they get their own place and you visit. Turn on all the lights and look in the fridge every 5 minutes... then leave it open.

hah!

....drink the last inch of milk from the carton and put in back in the fridge

I love it when my 3 month old is looking up at me whilst breastfeeding and smiles/laughs whilst trying to keep the nipple in his mouth.

I love that my 2 year old mispronounces quack quack as "fuck fuck" it makes feeding the ducks all the more fun and singing 5 little ducks hilarious.

I love watching dp read dc1 bedtime stories and cuddle him to sleep (I spy on them with the video monitor) dc1 unbuttons/unzips dp's top and put his cheek on his bare chest like we used to do when we did skin to skin with him as a baby.

I love reading stories before nap time, sometimes we go to bed an hour early so we can get lots of stories read.

Aye that as well. Plus random empty packets.

Amazing how tidy they get when they have their own place and shoes off at the door...'remembers teenage bedroom'

I have this to come, gamer

I can't wait < evil >

I am going to walk in their gaff, dump all my crap on their kitchen table, leave empty cartons in the fridge, grunt at them while playing my phone, eat the last of the naice biscuits and leave the wrappers around, hide some coffee mugs in their bedroom so they can be discovered 6 months later with 2 inches of mould

etcetera

And AF use all the loo paper but one square inch stuck to the cardboard roll and when they ask why you didn't put a new loo roll on the holder, tell them there was some left...
(unfortunately they are still like this, but I am biding my time)

I love the daft stuff they send me on FB or wotsapp, plus the pics they send of what they've cooked! I always say it looks yum even when it doesn't

yep !

Gorgeous thread.

I love hearing 18 month dd singing in her cot when she wakes up in the morning

DS (4) singing "I love you, you're so cool, with your glasses, always stay, baby baby baby, oh you're so cool, with your glasses..." I'm the only one with glasses so I knew it was about me .

DD(2) saying "Mummmmmmy!" and throwing herself at me she's so happy to see me.

How soft his forehead is and how he doesn't mind me nuzzling it every bedtime.

when dd said earnestly 'mummy you are the most bootiful person in the whole world' and put her chubby little arms around my neck.

Watching DS and DiL being fab parents to their gorgeous DC1; doting on said child with no responsibility and every confidence his needs are met; supporting and enjoying company of DD and SiL as they await the arrival of their DD. One thing DH and I recall with affection is listening to the sound of a small child thumping out of bed in the morning, taking self to bathroom, then heading to us for the morning cuddle.

When they bring out my latent silliness and we dance around the kitchen or giggle at ridiculous things.

I'm teaching DD to read at the moment. She is loving it and is like a little sponge at the moment soaking up anything I can teach her. Her tongue pokes out as she concentrates.

DS gives me wet kisses. He crawls across the room at race pace with a big smile on his face and climbs up to administer his half kiss / half lick.

When my ds points and says "Look Mummy, a sunset. It's beautiful!" Or "the moon is a banana tonight" and reminds me to enjoy all the free pleasures of the world.

In the same vein, how we can spend ages watching a pigeon on a rooftop go about its day.

Sarah and Duck and Katie Morag.

Dancing to the radio while waiting for dinner.

Reading Shirley Hughes books all over again, and discovering new ones.

Discovering that a timid, shy, hesitant kid (me) can create a gregarious, confident, outgoing one.

Watching baby dd laugh and laugh and laugh herself silly at the smallest thing ds does, hearing their funny attempts at conversation, watching their little kindnesses to each other and realising that I've created a friendship as well as two children.

Cooking/baking something they get excited about or ask you to cook again.

When all five of us are together in our bed at bedtime, reading bedtime stories (from the Foolish Tortoise to Tintin in Tibet or wherever - our 3 are 10, 7 and 2). Shame we don't really fit in the bed to sleep like that through the night... then I get q bit cross when they have to go to their beds and won't move.