Mums - did you ever not feel maternal?

[Jess92xo]

A question for the mums, did you ever feel unsure on whether you wanted children or never feel particularly maternal before you had your own?

I feel like I know I want children one day, but I also don’t think I will ever feel ready as I don’t ever feel broody or maternal.

I’ll be honest and say that if anything, other people’s kids put me off wanting them right now 😂 whenever we look after family or friend’s kids I find it a bit overwhelming and a reality shock of what hard work they can be. I’m always ready for them to go home and to have my space back 😅

I guess what I’m asking is whether anyone else felt this way, and whether it is completely different when it’s your own children? Right now I’m so happy with my life of just me and my husband that it scares me to take the plunge. But at the same time, I also see children in our future.

sorry for the ramble! X

I never really felt maternal. But there was a point I wanted a baby and fell pregnant quickly. I love my DS but I have no desire for any others. Kids are bloody hard work 😂.

Yes, me! I’ve never longed for kids or been particularly interested in them, including babies, and generally find other people’s annoying, though I did have a bit of a bond with a couple (niece, goddaughter) which was encouraging I suppose. (Not a completely cold hearted witch!) Felt like you, I wanted to have had children so figured we better give it a go as we weren’t getting any younger. I’m really glad we have our two now. It is hard though!

Ah that is good to hear! I'm the same and have a good bond with my nephews and niece (not blood related) BUT they are also hard to be around sometimes. their parents do let them get away with a lot and they can act quite spoilt, so I guess that's probably problem

I'm also not getting any younger so I think we will just have to go for it some time soon and see what happens. I just sometimes feel like I don't know anyone else that feels the same way I do, all my friends were broody and ready.

I'm not really a babies' or small children's person. I don't look at that many of them and think how cute and lovely.

However, I did want my own children and had three. I felt maternal and protective of them but not of other people's kids.

I was adamant I didn't want them, especially after seeing 7 niece's and nephews growing up 😂 then at 35 I met my now DH and had my little one when I was 36. It absolutely is different when it's your own. You develop a patience that you wouldn't have for anyone else. Mines the best thing I ever did or ever will do afaic😊

I could have wrote your exact post a year ago, then the happiest accident of my life happened and I'm curled up with my gorgeous 5 month old and I would not change him for the world. All doubts I had completely ebbed away before even the end of my first trimester. Now I'm trying to resist the temptation to immediately start trying to give him a sibling or 5 😆

I was absolutely certain that I didn't want children until I was about 30. I ended up having three and love them to bits.
I was never particularly interested in other people's babies before I had my own, and to be honest I'm not that keen on them now. My children are all adults now and people keep saying things like "I bet you can't wait to have grandchildren" but I'm really not bothered. I mean if my children choose to have children I'm sure I will love them but if they don't I won't be upset. I don't think you need to adore children in general to love and be a good parent to your own.

I never felt maternal and actually never held a baby until I gave birth to my own.

My daughter is amazing though and being a mother is the best thing I've done in my life ❤️

Oh op other people’s children are almost invariably annoying.

I never felt broody or maternal. The decision to have a child was entirely pragmatic.

It was the right decision for me on balance, but I only have one and it's still bloody hard.