Is "Yeah it's ok", such an strange/unexpected answer?

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When asked the question, "So how you finding motherhood?" Or "You enjoying motherhood then?" My answer is more often than not, "Yeah, it's ok". Quite often people seem a bit taken aback with my answer. It's an honest one!

I don't think so, although it does sort of suggest that you are going to follow up with a bit more detail.

"Yes, it's OK - I love the smiles but am struggling with a lack of sleep"

or

"Yes, it's OK - I'm a bit overwhelmed at the moment but we'll get there"

type of thing.

I've found that people expect me to say "it's amazing, the most wonderful thing I've ever experienced" or something similar.

To me my DD is amazing, wonderful etc etc. But the overall experience of parenthood? Well that's a mixed bag!!

Lack of sleep until I'm crying with exhaustion and wondering how I'll manage another broken night? Inconsolable crying from your precious baby when you can't work out the problem? Taking 3 hours to get ready for a 10 minute appointment? Those things are all really shit!

I often say "yeah it's ok thanks" but as a pp said, I usually follow that up with a qualifying statement "DD is wonderful but I am exhausted!" Etc.

I find it a strange question, along with is she/he good. I never really know what to say to either

I think people ask it as an opening, so you can talk about any tough bits or share the good bits. I feel like I am expected to say how tough it is, but I live it and end up toning down how much I love it.

Thanks ladies.

I think so much of my, possibly lack luster response is down to sleep deprivation.

I'm finding the whole experience a mixture of; monotonous, lovely, boring, consuming, long, short but he's so cute and lovely.

I think it might be because people expect new mothers to GUSH about how wonderful motherhood is that a more casual response could be seen as covering for either not enjoying it or symptoms of PND.

People who either don't have children or haven't had young children recently will probably not understand why you're not waxing lyrical about how amazing it all is...

I on the other hand used the opportunity to moan about how tired I was

Depends how old your kids are. I think 'yeah ok' is a pretty accurate (if restrained) answer to the question in the first weeks. 'a bit like falling down a rabbit hole' would've been my answer. As you get used to it, the answer is 'well, y'know, life, but with a gorgeous, frustrating, entertaining, helpless, demanding, utterly amazing extra person in it'.