what has being a mother taught you about yourself?

[worksforaliving]

DH said last night that this was one of the most important questions about parenting..
what do you think?

Pruni I agree that introversion and children don't mix! lol sometimes I can't bear to be touched or spoken to either.

I have discovered that, although I am a patient person, I am not as patient with my son as I am with my pupils and so have to make more of a conscious effort to be.

It has also taught me not to sweat the small stuff in life.

FioFio I'm sure you're not crap all the time!!

that i maybe wasnt as maternal as i thought i was

that i want my children to love me more than anything and be able to come to me whenever they need to (unlike me and my mum)

that i let things get me down too much and its not fair to take it out on the girls

i also value my own space too much, and I am working on NOT spending as much time here, and more time on the floor playing with them

fio - dont be so hard on yourself mate, we all feel like that some times xxx

Fio, I feel old and crap sometimes, so at least you've got one thing on your side .
I thought love at first sight was a load of rubbish, until I saw my children.
Also, how many rubbish songs I know all the words to.

Doubt that. Don't be hard on yourself, we all have our moments.

they wont hate you because you obviously love them and they will know this above all else

Yeah at least you care! And muddling along is what we all do as parents (I know I do at least 90% of the time)

That there is now one really important thing in life that I am good at

That my mum did sooooo much for me and my brother
That being a mother can be a thankless task
Understanding for other mothers whose children are tantruming whilst out!
How much I can love and protect something (I'm quite a passive person but I know if anyone tried to hurt my children....

I sometimes think of my mother and then think what will DD think of me when shes my age.

...that I can cope with a lot more than I thought I ever would have before ds was born.

Women are like tea bags - you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water.

I feel I have found something to do that makes sense. BUT I'm not very good at it a lot of the time - I don't spend enough time with dd playing rather than trying to get stuff done. I wasn't particularly maternal BC, but now I'd trample anyone who tried to hurt my baby! Wish I was a better role model, more confident, better at making friends, not so easily hurt - desperately want dd to 'fit in' better than I have. Blame a lot of my insecurity on way I was brought up - 'a young lady at all times', dressed in v. unfashionable clothes, not allowed to have an opinion etc - but guess I'm trying to redress this with dd. She WILL get to wear stuff other girls are wearing (within reason ), don't expect perfection all of the time, quite like it when she's a bit cheeky in fact! Hmmm - parenting has definitley made me question myself closely - I have more patience than I expected, enjoy snuggling up with a squirmy 3 year old, think on the whole I'm doing OK so far. Time will tell of course

Sorry - a bit deep there! Mumsnet has this habit of making me question stuff...

That I am far less patient than I gave myself credit for, but less selfish too.

I still don't like kids very much!

It has taught me how to love more completely than I ever thought possible.