What do you love about being a parent?

[SharpMolarBear]

Having the baby fall asleep in my arms with a smile on his face.

ahh I'm bumping this to see if we can get more

weird as it sounds, i sometimes like it when dd cries. You know, when they are upset and they just want a cuddle and they sit on your lap and you comfort them and they cuddle really close and have a little blub. Thats when you know they need you

When they say, Oh Mummy! you're the BEST! And when they come out with something side-splittingly funny, without meaning to be funny at all. When they're sleeping, with their cheeks all flushed... swoon.

Bedtime is quite high on the list ATM.

Being squashed, squished, kissed, zerbutted, smiled at, laughed with, talked to, hugged, secret look sharing, cooking with, baking with, dancing with................ what's not to love! The list is endless!

bedtime, or rather five minutes after bedtime.

I love it when ds makes a witty comment. He's very good at those and has been coming out with little jokes, with perfect comic timing, since he was really little; he's five now, but I'm still absolutely amazed at how witty children his age can be.

The moments when he makes one of his little dry 'quips' and has me in stitches, are really precious to me.

I love how he bounds confidently into the classroom every day even though he's really struggling and is being seen soon by the Ed Psych for possible dyspraxia. He's coping so well and I always feel a rush of pride when he goes confidently in.

I love how he has such strong opinions and views and is his own person - at 5!

how they make me laugh
how they see the truth of things
how dd, 2, sleeps next to me and wraps her arms around me, smiing in her sleep....
how you can make them feel safe and loved

and, oh, how extra good that glass of vino tastes after they've all gone to bed...

lem, yes I do know what you mean, nothing's really wrong, they're just tired and want a cuddle, and then you cuddle them to sleep
This thread always cheers me up

When my four YO DS tells me "Mummy, you look very pretty today". When I am slopping around in joggers and a t shirt.

When my 1 YO DD shrieks jealously and tries to get in the way of anyone I may dare to cuddle without including her.

How my DS never ever sulks even if I have told him off for something unfairly. Always accepts my apology immediately and I try to do the same for him.

How when my DS hugs and kisses me he makes a noise as though he is the most content person in the world.

When my DD pushes her head into my neck making little cooing noises when she is tired.

When my DS says "NO I want MUMMY to do it" if someone else tries to help him with something.

Just about everything really.

I love watching them play together and make each other laugh. I love watching them play with dh. I love their stories and interpretations of how the day went and their little embellishments that turn the whole story into a huge fabrication. I love when they come to my room in the morning and are so awake compared to my sleepiness and are in full chat mode while I try to open an eye. I don't know what I'd do without them, life would be quiet and boring.

Custy it's nice to hear positive teenager comments - gives us something to look forward to!

I love how DD (5)comes stumbling into our room every morning with hair all over the place, falls into our bed and announces "snuggle me".

I love going out with DD and DH and feeling proud of my little family.

I love when DD hugs me and strokes my face and calls me "precious Mummy". Ditto with DH replacing "precious Mummy" with "precious Daddy" of course.

I love it when she is all dressed for school in the morning and looks so grown up.

I love it that she has the same taste in music as me and she loves my favourite band as much as I do and we sing in the car together and we already have tickets for her first gig (in December)and I can't wait!

I am today ignoring the back chat/answering back/yelling/5 yr old attitude and concentrating on the postitives!

A superficial response:

How one truly comes to appreciate a proper lie-in once one becomes a parent

the surprises;
dd being a blue eyed red-head
dd being a girl in the first place (was convinced i was carrying a boy)
her own take on language and communication and the way it's completely unique and often hilarious.

his big grin beaming out of his cot in the morning brightens up my day before it even began

These are fantastic
Having given DS his first food today, I love the surprised (and slightly disgusted) look that was on his face

Dancing - soo fun!! Put Foo fighters MOnkey Wrench on extra load - kids love it!

I love watching ds(2yrs) and dd (4yrs) cuddle and kiss each other before they go to bed. I love it when ds comes for a goodnight kiss giggling before I've even had a chance to kiss and blow raspberrys on him. I it when dd and I snuggle up together on the sofa to watch a film and she pats me and says 'I love you mummy'.

AWWWwww, they drive me crazy sometimes but being a parent has changed my life for the better.

i just love everything about being a mum to my three, it's a great journey.

the sound of my child's laughter is my favourite sound in all the world

Being able to help my dds with stuff like reading, beating the bullies, homework, etc.

Teaching them to appreciate nature.

Reading bedtime stories, especially when it's books i have enjoyed.

I agree, I love reading books that are really GOOD to ds and introducing him to them.

And i think when he's giving me one of his big, huge, hugs is when I am at my most utterly, completely happy. I just won't GET happier than I feel then.

I love it that only Mum can make it better... DS had a nightmare last night.. and came into our room at about 4am..
"Mummmmmm I'm scarrrrreedddddd"
"get in" I said pulling back the covers..
"can you cuddle me mum"
"yes, everythings ok, now go back to sleep"
Bless him, he's 9

Tears in my eyes (custy, amongst others!)

Giggles
The hyperventilating sound of excitement
More giggles if mummy makes that noise as well
Beams. She has just the best beam.
Cuddles. Especially the crawling across the floor to come and get one kind.
The little bits of sense of humour/ communication that show me what a great little person she is growing in to.

wanted to bump this cause its just made me cry!

When dd (11 months) farts in the bath and giggles at the bubbles!!

When she responds to any request to 'give kisses'with an open mouth and her tongue stuck out and a dribble patch on her chin - but no one can resist kissing her anyway!

When she flaps and squeals with jealousy if I cuddle anyone but her.

Love everything about it