Has becoming a mother fulfilled you?

[DungeonButter]

Before I had kids I thought becoming a mother would fulfil me?

But I don't think it has.

Instead I find being a parent kind of gets in the way of the things that do make me feel fulfilled like career, sports, art etc.

Or maybe being a parent is just one aspect of a fulfilled life, but isn't everything. You need the other stuff too?

I love my children. But I had rather hoped it was some sort of key to happiness and am discovering it's not.

Come and indulge me in my naval gazing.

I absolutely adore my DS, more than life itself as someone said earlier. However. I also find other aspects of life frustrating - not being able to properly devote myself to developing a career, never being on top of the housework, not being able to go out as often as I'd like, losing my figure, not having time for exercise and recreational stuff, etc.

I think life with children is at the same time far more fulfilling and far more frustrating than life without. But I'd never for a moment want LittleMonstrousMerryHenry to be anywhere but in my life.

I combined it all tonight by taking DS1 along to help me work for a sports team.
Parenting, career and sports.
Yay.

next thing you'll become a Soccer Mom.

Well he was very cross with me when i said we had to go home because i wasn't getting paid anymore it was getting cold.

Not sure i want my baby getting all bashed up playing rugby.

I feel fulfilled since having DD despite her being quite the little surprise. She is just perfect, all I really want to do is spend time with her. I think it helps that I only have one child, work part-time and study part-time and as a consequence of both of those things have a fairly good social life too.

I don't know if I would feel the same if I was a SAHM who didn't get much time off. Oh and if I didn't have a cleaner!

happiness can be vicariously achieved through children, however one must also have self satisfaction.individual achievements obtained outwith motherhood

being a mum and working fulfils me -not motherhood alone

Wsa fulfilled before I had a baby. Now am fulfilled in a different way. Not more, not less, just different. I try to keep things well rounded though - being a Mum isn't the sole focus of my life (although its a very big part of it). Its not selfish, its just sensible.

God I love my DD with a passion and fervour that surprises me sometimes. Before she was born I had never felt that pure joy she has brought me.
BUT as pisces moon says earlier I am a little uncomfortable that it took her to bring that out in me, and that my life revolves so utterly around her.

No one thing can fufil you so having children and hoping they could do that for you is unreasonable. No pressure kids!!
Your life has many different parts, your a wife/partner, mother, daughter, friend what ever job you do on top, if any.
If you have no help in the babysitting department like CatIsAsleep then it's going to be very tough as your not getting time to be anyone else.
If you have a crap DH/DP or are single then life is going to be hard.
If you don't have good friends or a social circle with your kids, then you'll be lonely.
If you work and hate it, same again.
Or if you are trying to juggle a career and family, nothing is going to be easy.
Try not to think, kids were meant to fufil me and they didn't. Try to think, how can I make other aspects of my life better and therefore enjoy my kids more.
You will get back to sports and other things gradually and then you'll be thinking - where did my time with the kids go.