The best things about being a parent...

[scoobysnax]

I thought it would be great to have a happy thread to look at! What are the best things about being a parent for you?

Here are some of mine:
everytime my daughter laughs
when she sings an action song all the way through complete with the actions
when she tells me she likes "my new hair"
when she says "it's a wonderful day"
when she says "Thank you, Mummy"

Seeing dd smile at me, giving her hugs, having her fall asleep on me, watching her developing, seeing her interacting with other people and just thinking wow she is amazing and mine! I really love being a mum.

The feeling of peace when they finally fall asleep after hours of shilly shallying and faffing and bolshy defiance.

Watching my dd1 blossom from a painfully shy 4 year old into a 6 year old who can make new friends in any situation, and is no longer scared to join in with other people.
Watching dd2 doing her "comedian" routine - she can always make me laugh!

Taking me Ds out for a picnic, then to feed the ducks and to the park, DS running up to me and giving me a big kiss and cuddle "thats because you've been a good girl today mummy".

I watch my kids and see all the best bits: the joy they take in something as simple as rolling down a grassy bank, a picnic of jam sandwiches and chocolate biscuits, the excitement of sleeping in a tent in the garden, watching a storm, feeding the ducks.... Basically, enjoying all the things that really matter.

What a lot of yovely descriptions. I am particularly enjoying my 11 yr old ds at the moment. Am always very proud of all 3 children but it is fantastic to see him becoming grown up and having interesting conversations and developing new interests and yet still being a child, so very little horrible teenager stuff yet! I get a warm feeling inside when I see him working stuff out, tho less warm when collecting smelly socks from under his bed or trying to persuade him to go to bed at a sensible hour.
And I still get cuddles sometimes, and plenty from the younger two.

DS (nearly 2) saying 'tan chu Mummy' whenever I give him something.

Listening outside his bedroom to him sing 'tinkle tinkle daar, I dunda dunda da' with a big proud grin on my face.

Girlie chats with dd (8 yrs old) at bedtime.
Makes up for all the 'aaarrrgh' times when they are driving me mad.

When DS says, 'I love you soooooooo much Mummy'
When I wake up in the night to find a cuddly warm little body curled up next to me ... and it isn't DH
When my DS comes out with lovely things like 'I love my new gobbles mummy' meaning his new GOGGLES for swimming
Oh and when DS says, 'You are soooo pretty Mummy' and when other people say how polite he is ... not that he is very polite to me but hey ho!

When my Ds tells me he loves me for no reason, when I buy him something small and he acts like it is the best present he has had ever. When he climbs into my bed to keep me company so I am not scared of the dark!!!!!.

When DD smiles at me and then my heart melts.

Another one ..... TOYS TOYS TOYS !!!!

Fun day trips out

Seeing their little faces light up with the above (and DH's too)

A reason to build sandcastles again

Going out for ice cream sundaes

smiles, cuddling and smelling baby!! Seeing the wonder of the world through their eyes.

What a lovely thread..
The best thing for me is realising what my whole life has been about. Before Lottie I had a fab busy life, went out clubbing loads, slept all day the following day, it was great, but this is what it's all about, being a Mum rocks! My life finally really makes sense.
Other day to day things are:
*Making her laugh just by walking into the room
*Her making me laugh just by giving me a silly gummy smile

• Playing peep-o, even if it does go on too long sometimes!
• her soft breathing
• when she cuddles me and nuzzles into my neck