Non-baby things to do before you have a baby - ideas for the list?

[Charingcrossbun]

Hi ladies,

I am 13weeks pg and find I have lost all my tolerance for little people: the whiney, whinging, walking slowly and general loudness of children is grating on me. I'm fully aware this is completely unreasonable. i'm sure these children are as endearing and charming as their doting parents think they are but i'm struggling to see it at the moment. I'm blaming hormones and my deep seated terror that this pregnancy (whilst being something I really really want) is something I cannot control, nothing will be the same again.....

Anyway I figured I would channel this unnerving horribleness into something more positive and am creating a list of things to do before we have a baby:

1. Put headphones on and ignore children on public transport - I am childless and uncaring.
2. Carry a small handbag which only contains things to amuse me
3. Take on some night shifts for volunteering I do (see I am a nice person honest!) on the basis that I can wake DP at 0230 and he will not cry for hours
4. Lay in at the weekends

5...... Any ideas - a list for the last months?

Weekend brunch in a cafe reading the papers.

Take your time going round the supermarket.

Cook a fancy meal that requires a lot of preparation.

Ha ha, I love CloudKitten's list - so true!

Though I have to say, even though DD is almost 4, it has not stopped us going out to dinner, cinema or gigs! Maybe we're neglectful parents .

What I do miss terribly is not being able to spend a Sat or Sun mooching about the house DOING NOTHING. We used to TV or film marathons accompanied by lots of food and wine. Those days are gone...

Sleeeeep
And if you do... sleep for me, too !

Cinema!!! As others have said you will never want to waste a babysitter on it but I really miss going to the cinema with DH :(

Cinema
Theatre
Art gallery, exhibition
Weekend away eg Paris, Barcelona or somewhere lovely in UK
Coffee shop - one where you sit and have brunch with a book or magazine followed by more coffee , etc etc
Shopping where you go for you
Have hair done
Have nails done
Go to Jo Malone and have a session at the tasting bar
Lunch out at non hold friendly place
Backto back movies at home with yummy takeaway and lounge in yr pjs
Massage
Stay in bed and read all day
Stay in bed and watch films all day
Buy all your Christmas presents and birthday cards etc for next year
Do a day course if you fancy it
Do a day out with yr Mum or MIL if you get on doing any of the above
Have house spring cleaned , get beautiful flowers in and just sit there and enjoy the peace and tranquility

I love my DS 5 but unless he is asleep or out there is no just being IYKWIM

A list before marriage might be more exciting:) but I miss

Watching what I want on the telly with no interruptions or thought for inappropriate content at any time day or night.

Long bath with no interruptions.

Loo on own at home or in shops. If you are out and about, know where all loos are a) for you as you get bigger and b) when your dc endlessly want the loo, normally when you are all hot and cross in a tiny changing room with a baby screaming to bf and a toddler who needs a poo NOW despite having been to the loo 5 mins ago.

Tea in bed with a book.

Conversation with female / male family members which you like and unfortunately as soon as you have the baby they will become an instant expert on your baby and tell you where you are going wrong ALL the time. Unless you are lucky and they do it behind your back ( only vaguely joking)

Have sex with the lights on and not be self conscious.

Have sex without interruptions

Have sex at all :)

Perhaps use the time to work on your attitude and feelings towards children?!

Trust me, you won't want anyone describing your little darling as a whiney, whingey, loud, slow walking thing!

Y, y to swimming. I seem to spend so much of my life watching ds do his swimming lessons, propelling dd around in the swimming pool or, more recently, paddling in the sea with ds up to his waist/my knee level. I'm forever looking longingly at the water, remembering the days when I could just swim. Sigh.

Oh LostMarbles , but they often are whiney, whingey, loud, slow walking things! that's quite an accurate observation of the average toddler!

Doesn't mean they aren't completely lovable :) but OP can't yet feel that joy until her own LO is here (and her noise tolerance levels have been stretched!)

Last minute city breaks

Swanky boutique hotels

Cinema for things other than a u or pg

Evening things - anything! classes, exercise, choir, meeting friends after work, gym

Expensive hols paying fir 2 not 4

Lie-ins

Enjoy! You've got at least 18 years before you'll enjoy such freedom again!

Have a weekend break in a child free hotel. We went to Rome when I was pregnant. It was lovely. Didn't go abroad again for six years, so really treasured those memories!
Go out for a proper dinner somewhere that doesn't serve burgers or pizzas.
Go to the theatre or to a concert.
Have lots of long chats with your friends, uninterrupted, about things which are not baby-related at all.
Read a book in bed, in peace.
Take long baths in peace.
Buy yourself some really gorgeous clothes in a size larger than you normally wear. that way you'll have something lovely to wear once the baby is born, before you get back to your normal weight. (But nothing too tight or that needs ironing - stuff you can just slip on and feel great in.)

Travel if you can afford it (in a relaxing way i.e. beach and cocktail or stack of books, silence and interesting views).

Sleep sleep sleepy sleep.

Just please yourself basically as your needs will be subsumed for a little while to some degree once the baby arrives. But it really isn't forever and children are definitely worth it. And your own are always generally more tolerable than other people's. You'll be fine x

A weekend away with your best friend, I really regret not doing this, as its just not possible now due to clingyness if daughter!

Enjoy going to the toilet by yourself/ having a bath without interruption/ not having to share what your eating.

Most of all enjoy your sleep

eating a hot meal whilst its still hot.
def taking out a small handbag
getting hair done

Having the time to blow dry your hair

I thought I'd miss a lot of my previous life before DS came along, but find I still have time for baths, books, cinema etc. The thing I do miss though, apart from lots of sleep, which I never expected, was being able to eat junk food whenever I want without beady little all-seeing toddler eyes noticing and always wanting to eat what I'm having, meaning I have to be much more careful about what I eat and when. It's such a minor thing, but I do miss it.

Spend an evening at home with your friends (or by yourself) watching films and doing your nails in a leisurely fashion :-)

Stand in your house, and enjoy the silence!!!!!!!

I dream of being home alone without any pressing tasks ,DH takes the boys out so I ccan do school work, but I don't get those , lying on the sofa reading a book in the quiet.

Second the cinema- one of the days I will have seen a film with more than a U certificate!!

Tidy the house, make yourself a cup of tea then sit down with a book in the sunshine and say to yourself, 'There will still be moments like this. They will be known as 'nap time' and they will keep me sane.'

Have a wee in peace. And without rushing, or fearing that the flush will wake someone.

PenelopeLane -it's simple, I just buy double portions of junk food and then I can eat mine in peace as they have their own.

I guess sleep has been covered??..Did anyone heavily hint on mention dirty weekends?