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Original poster

What has motherhood helped you to see or understand?

118 replies

Portofino · 06/05/2010 15:31

And how has it enriched you?

Have left it late to do my homework for my course tonight? Any great thoughts I can steal use for inspiration?

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Pheebe · 06/05/2010 18:03

Its made me far far less selfish and self-absorbed

Its made me far more caring about other people in general and tolerant of different attitudes and beliefs - each to their own

Its made me want to make the world a better place not just for my kids but for everyone

I have discovered what true, unconditional love is

I feel a love and respect for my parents I suppose I lost in my teens and arrogant self absorbed 20s

Its made me realise that family and friends are way more important than materialistic things

I feel like I have a role and a purpose in life and that part of that is taking care of myself too

thats just off the top of my head...hope it helps!

SoMuchToBits · 06/05/2010 18:04

What Pheebe said - and also what fun Playmobil is to play with!

Original poster
Portofino · 06/05/2010 18:12

Thank you so much! I will know look wise instead of the one who forgot to do the work again

I do agree with all the above points - apart from the Playmobil - which is the Devil's work!

Off out now!

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tethersendisnigh · 06/05/2010 18:18

That I am not the centre of the universe.

I'm still struggling to get over the disappointment.

thegirlwithsomethingextra · 06/05/2010 18:29

That we are a product of our genes just as much as we are a product of our environment. Or many even more so.

Original poster
Portofino · 06/05/2010 21:24

lol tethersend! Well in the end I never got asked! So your wisdom will have remain within the realms of MN....

Mother's Motto for the night - Good is Good Enough!

OP posts:
presario · 07/05/2010 19:39

not to expect other people to worship my kids as much as I do and that there own kids are the centre of their universe

that my mum did the best she could even if sometimes she got it wrong

you can only do as much as you can in one day and everything else has to wait till tomorrow

mumtotwoboys · 07/05/2010 19:44

I certainly don't judge other mums these days.
The woman who is dragging her kicked screaming child down the street with a 'i'm going to kill someone' expression, is probably not a bad mother or lunatic, it could quite easily be anyone in her position

southeastastra · 07/05/2010 19:45

made me realise why my mum was a little intense when we were growing up!

mumtotwoboys · 07/05/2010 19:49

thegirlwithsomethingextra

I agree!
I used to think a way a child was soley depended on the way they were looked after. I thought 'oh my child won't be one of those rude kids who doesn't answer hello and acts up in public'
Newsflash
They are how they are, work with it.

I didn't expect to have a child like this, he rarely likes giving me hugs, but that's his nature (not from nurture, i'm very affectionate)

MrsDinky · 07/05/2010 19:50

Using a pushchair has made me realise what an uphill battle wheelchair users face in their everyday life, cars parked on pavements, access to shops etc and that for me it's only a few years but for many it's for life. Not sure how it has enriched me, but a new respect for those in wheelchairs.

NormanTheForeman · 07/05/2010 19:51

It has also helped me to see that your child is only a child for such a short time. You need to make the most of it and really have fun with them before they turn into a grumpy teenager while you can.

Ds and I have had a really good time the last couple of days!

NormanTheForeman · 07/05/2010 19:52

Ooops! I'm SoMuchToBits really! Lost track of my name-changing today I'm afraid

MyCatIsABastard · 07/05/2010 19:56

That patience is a thing that can be battered into you by a very small constantly screaming human being who seemingly has no capacity for sleeping or not being hungry.

That if you can handle the hell of those first 8 weeks, you can pretty much handle anything.

That I had an unknown capacity for killing (no, not the DC)) - I would kill to protect my children and have no conpunction over doing so.

bilblio · 07/05/2010 20:17

That I'd never know real tiredness before.
I agree with kids being more a product of their genes than I'd previously believed.
That I'm not actually as patient as I previously thought, and other people seem to think... or maybe that's down to the tiredness too.
I have a greater respect and understanding of my own parents. They've always been great, but I realise now that I will always be my Mum's little girl, whether I'm 2 or 32. Seeing a child grow up and become independent is fantastic, but also terrifying.

I also thought that scruffy, snot & dribble covered kids were not very well looked after by their parents.
Then I realised that kids under 4 (although I may revise that age as DD gets older) are just made from snot and dribble, and snot and dribble attract dirt.

ScreaminEagle · 07/05/2010 21:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

grumpyasallpoliticiansarepants · 07/05/2010 21:09

That probably me being a right cow to my dad the last time I saw him didn't mean he died hating me. I felt that all the way up til I found out that I still loved ds/dd whatever they did or said to me, and that the daily stuff meant very little until all pieced together. but

wukter · 07/05/2010 21:15

I think it was the great Nigella Lawson who said -ahem- "Motherhood is when you stop being the picture and start being the frame."

Nigella and I don't see eye to eye on kitchen hygiene but that statement I agree with.

LittleWhiteWolf · 07/05/2010 21:22

I've only been a mum for 10 months, but so far I just care more. About everything: I care about other people more and I care about the world as a whole more.

Oddly I'm also more independant since having DD. I dont know how thats happened, but I feel more self-assured and confident!

I laugh more, too. Yes I cried alot more during difficult times when DD has been poorly or overtired and just not going to sleep, but on the whole I laugh a lot more. That can only be good!

Kewcumber · 07/05/2010 21:26

that you were born to be who you are and that a good parens job is just to help you figure it all out.

That I am no where near as good a parent as I expected to be and yet I am the best parent DS will ever have.

That I can put someone elses needs before my own and really be happy about it

ElusiveMoose · 07/05/2010 21:26

Wow, Wukter, I love that (even though I can't stand Nigella ). I once read something very similar that equally chimed with me - that becoming a mother is the end of self-consciousness.

mumblecrumble · 07/05/2010 21:26

That every life is so very very precious as evey life has a mother who has made it.

And I now undertsand more about points, signals and the island of sodor.

bibbitybobbityhat · 07/05/2010 21:27

Your child will surprise you at every turn. You cannot predict what they will do or what kind of personality they will have based purely on yourself and your partner.

Pregnancy and childbirth is a miracle which many of us take too much for granted.

Bonsoir · 07/05/2010 21:30

That intelligence is innate and genetic, but skills are acquired, and that if you do not ensure your children are given the right opportunities to acquire skills they are highly unlikely to acquire them otherwise.

Hence - choose their school with care, and ensure they have plenty of outside activities, whether they be with you or elsewhere.

Bonnyandborris · 07/05/2010 21:30

The true meaning of the word 'tired'.