What would be the one thing you wish you'd done before your first child was born?

[Crossfitgirl]

So I have just found out I'm expecting my first child, and although we are so excited, I know that my freedom to do spontaneous things, certain holidays and experiences will be off the cards in about 8 months time - at least for a while!
I would be interested to know from other parents if there is anything you really valued doing / wished you had done, maybe one last time before your first was born?

I think the Maldives is off the cards (can only dream 😂!) What would you plan if you could go back in time to where I am now?

Travelled more

I wish I had gone to see some west end shows and theatre things

Sleep

Just generally leaving the house more, if only to sit in cafes and watch the world go by without any sense of hurry.

Gonna kind of segue here but I’d re-do my twenties and

• not marry the wrong guy
• travel more
• live abroad
• like myself more

BUT that’s only what I’ve realised since having children

So in short: TRAVEL

Travel more- make use out of the bargain last minute deals

Nap!

Me and DH both talk about how we didn’t nap enough pre DC!

Go on term time holidays
Sleep
Pack my hospital bag

Slept, a lot. Enjoyed a lie in rather than felt guilty. Enjoyed hot meals with two hands and not sharing them. Being able to use the toilet in my own home in the day without an audience & the kid not being slammed on my back while he tries to brush his teeth with the loo brush. The simple things change so much!

Waited for the right man.
Concentrated on my career.
Saved a deposit for my own property.

I immediately thought TRAVEL too.

Lots and lots of holidays, just the two of you. I love travelling, but with chidlren it's hard work. I love holidays with children - but they don't want to do the things that dh & I want to do. And you can't lie in.

Made sure my body was in the best shape before getting pregnant.

Travelled.

Made lots of money- to travel.

Had a supportive network of friends and family around me.

Oh and savings!

Oh just one thing? I have like 5.

*And then when they're teenagers, as 2 of mine are, you can't get them up in the morning

Have lots of naps, go to the movies and theater a lot

sorted out my 1000s of photos

I'm good with sleeping!
Getting out of the house even to go have a coffee in a cafe sounds great actually.
I'm always busy and doing this that and the other... need to find more time to relax!

We have annual leave booked in February so plan to get a last minute deal... And all being well may try to get away again may or June as little on is due in August!

Practical things are:

Get your house clean and decorated.

Think about schools - are you in the area that you want your child to go to school, have friendship groups, social activities? If not start preparing to move house now - those first 4 years go really really quickly, and moving schools is stressful for everyone.

Go to all the ante-natal groups you can - start building that network now. A lot of new mums feel lonely.

Too be honest I have no regrets I went to college travelled etc and the best thing I ever did was I took mat leave as early as possible (29weeks)🤣🤣everyone said I was crazy (but I knew I wasn’t going back to work) (I’m a teacher) so I spend the last 12 weeks of pregnancy (baby was a week late) with my hubby when he wasn’t at work. Had some starvation’s and just generally enjoyed a whole lot of me time before I would never be just “me” again. Because no matter what you do after you really are always thinking of them, you are not “you” you are mummy.

Staycations* definitely not starvation’s I ate all around me 🤣🤣

Sleep.
Sleep.
Do a huge huge clearout of crap, because babies have a surprising amount of stuff of their own.

I've actually enjoyed travelling more since we've had DD, you get to skip all the queues without paying for business class and DD has been treated like royalty everywhere we've been with her. It's magical to see them experiencing new things alongside you. I wish we'd travelled more when she was less mobile though.

Seriously @crossfitgirl

If you can afford it, spaff some £££ on a holiday with guaranteed heat and sun as this really will be the last chance you have for some years to come to just flop out and tan if that is your thing.

Sleep and cinema. We rarely go to the cinema these days.

Tricky to do if you're already pregnant, but run a marathon. I will be doing my first one next year and finding the time to do the training is so hard with two young children.

Go on a month long long-haul term time holiday and do absolutely nothing but lay on a sun lounger in blazing heat with a butler bringing me cocktails.