Please tell me nice things about motherhood

[anonmom1992]

Hi, soon to be first time mum here (DS due November)

Throughout my pregnancy I have found that I have received a lot of comments like “be prepared for sleepless nights!”, “you’ll never be you again” etc. All of the negatives of motherhood which I understand there is some, this month is probably my last chance of a good nights sleep, my life will change dramatically and my free time will be pretty non existent.

Mums,
Please share with me some nice parts of motherhood? I know there is a lot, one being the indescribable love you feel for your child (already feeling it but can’t imagine how much it’ll grow when I lay eyes on him for the first ever time ) but I feel like every one has been telling me the negatives rather than positive aspects? I would love to hear any cute stories you have with your children too

You will never need to own an alarm clock again.

My top three:
Post bath cuddles (don't know why they're different, but they are)
Hearing your other half reading to your baby
The way they look at you when they're feeding

And congratulations! Mine is only 4 months old haha I'm looking forward to seeing other people's answers

I've never known love like it. Nothing compares to how accomplished I feel because of them. No achievements, work anything. And I'm not the most maternal person in the world.
The food definitely outweighs the bad for me.
And if you have more than one. Get a King size bed at least.
The best part for me is whispering to them that we're going to skip bedtime climb into my bed with some sweets and watch TV till way to late. They're just so easily pleased.

Oh my god the LOVE! I didn't think it was possible to love anything or anyone as much as I love my little girl.

The way they look at you when you're feeding them.

My DD has started stroking my face when she gets tired and she makes THE cutest noises.

Honestly you won't care about the lack of sleep when you're cuddling them in the middle of the night and the rest of the world is quiet.

When your child comes barreling out of school shouting "mummy" and is the most delighted to see you that anyone has ever been. That bit is cool.
Tiny babies smell really nice.
When they go to sleep on you and you manage to transfer them to a cot or pram, you feel like the most awesome person ever.

I too was slightly dreading it. Now with DD at 9 months I am pretty much loving it.

Positives:

My daughter makes me laugh and glow with pride every single day (sorry if that's cheesy)
It has strengthened my relationship with my DH immeasurably. He is a wonderful father and we make a good team.
A baby is an instant bonding tool with other women. Strangers are so nice to you and it's easy to strike up a conversation.
If you feel anti social the baby is a perfect excuse to leave/miss something you don't want to do.
I was amazed at what my body was capable of. I felt like superwoman after the birth (albeit an achy, leaky superwoman)
I have loved the headspace that comes with not being at work for a few months
When you do get the chance to sleep you sleep very quickly and deeply!
It's great being able to drink again after pregnancy

But to be honest the first reason above outweighs all the others. Maternal love is an amazing thing.

My dd is three and my ds one and they make me laugh til my tummy hurts they're so bloody funny in their different ways.

Like a pp said, when dd has been in preschool and I pick her up her whole face just lights up when she sees me and she runs as fast as she can to me shrieking 'mummy!!'. They make me feel amazingly loved.

Oh god you just adore them so much it hurts. I can't stop myself squeezing them and kissing their faces all over. Ds's gurgling laugh when I'm pretending to eat him.. just so many things. It's the best!

I found it hard in the early days but the older they get the more I adore them every day. It's an indescribable love.

Just realised I have dc of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 +30!!
Best bit is they want a hug no matter what their age.
You can always tell them you love them and feel it back however old they are!
Kisses are ageless ime!!

We’ve had a different journey than most. We have twins, both of whom are disabled with severe delays. They are three now and sleep is still very poor. They are still in nappies, on bottles, can’t use cutlery etc so we are still in a much earlier stage than those with kids our age.

But I am so proud of them. They are such lovely happy boys. Recently one kicked a ball for the first time and today he drew with a crayon. Every time they make a bit of progress I feel like I’ve won the lottery for a minute.

They love songs and will climb on to my knee and touch my face to get me to sing.

I do struggle a lot with how full on everything is but my boys are fantastic in their own ways.

We didn’t have any family around so we had no help and no break until they started nursery a few months after they turned two. I am starting to feel a bit more like myself and have restarted doing a few things I enjoy (crafts, baking etc).

It is full on, especially in that first year although I have no idea what it’s like only having one or having family to help so I imagine it could be very different.

When they hold their arms out to you because they want you to pick them up. Think my dd started doing this at about 5m and it still melts my heart now

Laughter, kids are hilarious! The little silly things they say and do, the cuteness, the innocence of them. I'd have 20 if I could! Best feeling in the world to me is that bond, the love you feel for your children and proudness is overwhelming and by far out weighs the sleepless nights and tantrums x

When my baby was first born, someone said to me to try and enjoy all the moments, even the difficult ones, because it all goes so quickly. 'the hours are long but the years are short' - I didn't believe this for the first 6 weeks but it really is true!

It is hard to remember that when you're exhausted at times, but honestly the difficult times are the minority, and it does help me to think that.

He's 12 months now. Getting a cuddle from him is amazing. He is so funny and cheeky. I love watching him learn new things, doing things over and over as he works them out. Watching him interact with other people, particularly his dad and my parents.

I was not looking forward to weaning, but he enjoys food so much it gives me great joy to see him devouring what I give him! (caveat: it us also infuriating when he chucks something on the floor whilst shouting 'uh oh' but it is funny in hindsight).

When he was about 3 months old I was in a café and he was asleep in the pram. I was reading my book and having a coffee. An old lady came over to coo over him (another positive!) and she said 'People will say to you it gets harder than this, he'll get more demanding, you should enjoy this 'easy' phase while you can. And that is true, you should make the most of it. But know that one day, sooner than you think, you will be able to do this again - just have a coffee and read your book.' I just thought it was a lovely thing to say and it's true - he can now play by himself for periods as long as I'm near so I enjoy that too!

I think there is a lot of negative chat about babies and people love their horror stories. But honestly, so much of it is wonderful. And the rubbish stuff makes good stories later ;)

Congratulations and the best of luck to you xxx

StickyToffeeTart try cuddles in the bath, a whole new levels of cuddles.

Having a baby/child hard but the rewards are so worth it. I much prefer it when they get past new born but I love watching them grow and develop into their own identities. Sniffing their head gives you an amazing hormone rush of love.

I was (am?!) a massive traveller and clubber who used to spend most summers in Ibiza. You won't believe the amount of people who told me how different / worse my life would be after kids. Yes, it's different, yes, it's a challenge but I wouldn't change it for the world. The love you feel for this little person you've created and the love they give you back is indescribable. Like many others have said, the pure happiness on their face when they run towards you with their arms open after you pick them up from Granny's/nursery just makes your heart burst!

Oh and my daughter has already been to Ibiza, Thailand, Canada, skiiing (twice) and two festivals before she's 2. Everything is still totally possible if you want to do it, just takes a bit more planning!

I love how everything is an adventure, even the small things like a pebble or an ant.
Their wonder and fascination for everything is just amazing. I love exploring with them.

Every time they are smiling you feel happy and proud. When they laugh it gives you the giggles too. When they fall asleep on your chest you relax with them and enjoy the cuddle. You get to watch them learn and develop and you get a whole new skill set of looking after and playing with babies and little children. They tell you the basic pasta you made is delicious and that you look beautiful even when you're feeling a bit haggard. They see all the wonder and magic in the world and it's hard to feel cynical when they are squealing and dancing around just because there's a rainbow or a squirrel or the leaves are falling off the trees. If you give them a bit of cake or blow them some bubbles they look at you like they just won the lotto. They get you out, meeting new people and enjoying the fresh air and your community in a way you've never experienced before. You instantly have something in common with other Mums and often share a smile with other people pushing a pram or get sympathetic kind looks if your baby or toddler is stropping about something. You get to teach a child all the things and skills that are important to you. There is nothing nicer than snuggling up on the sofa with your dh and kids and knowing that everyone you love most is right there with you and safe and happy. Even on a hard day they give you a cuddle and you wouldn't change a thing. Their hair smells amazing, especially just after a bath. You just look at your dh sometimes and smile because you made them together. Having children is the best thing I've ever done- they give me joy and love.

For me, one of the most beautiful things is observing my children learn new skills or discover things about the world. They have an innate fascination and desire to learn. It really has inspired me to look at life differently, to find the joy in small things. It's also so incredible to see how their little minds work. They are like sponges, soaking up information.

Congratulations.
I’d include the smell of a clean toddler all warm in pjs after a bath. The way they cling round your neck. The first word, the first time they say “no” and giggle. The funny things they say.
The look on their faces the first time they touch snow, the first time they pedal a bike & stay upright.

Oh and a PS - I didn't feel that initial rush of love. It wasn't love at first sight - I fell in love with him, and I love him more every single day. I found the first couple of weeks quite hard, as his dad definitely did fall in love immediately and they had this bond straight away. It wasn't until someone said to me after about 10 days it's normal that I accepted it and it was ok to feel that way.

My DS is only 3 months old at the moment and not had one sleepless night... YET. 😂

He completes me and I don't even miss my life before I had him. He is my life 🥰

Seeing your partner with your baby.
Snuggly cuddles when they are tiny and snuffle into your shoulder/neck.
Taking them out to farms/seaside etc and seeing their little faces look around in awe.
When they get a bit older - the random things they say and the sayings they copy from you which they don't know how to put in context - adorable.
Story time in bed with them snuggling up to you.
The affection, cuddles and kisses that they smother you with. There is so much love in a toddler and pre schooler!
Seeing them asleep in bed after a day of them being a total horror and forgetting all about the tantrums when they look so cute asleep.

So much more, but it's the best. It might take time for you to adjust and you will probably struggle at times with the sleep deprivation or having this tiny bundle be the centre of your world and the only thing you can concentrate on for the first few months, but you will love it and it soon gets easier. I wouldn't be without my DS and having him was the best decision we ever made.

Erm... DS loves cuddles and it's adorable when he hugs me and gives me kisses. He's almost 2.

Making them smile/laugh.
Listening to them sleep talk/ watching them do things in their sleep
Helping them learn new words and what they say can be hilarious.
Newborn sneezes are adorable as is watching them do a little yawn.

Other than that, I really struggled. But once they start smiling then it makes things way more bearable.

(I'm also very un-maternal and don't really feel that strong sense of love everyone seems to mention. But I do love them)

My DD is 10 weeks old. Not going to deny it's hard at times but she is just so amazing. Her smiles are so beautiful, she's so cuddly, and I love watching her develop, in the last few weeks she has started figuring out she has hands and what she can do with them. It's the cutest thing ever. I also think it has brought me and DH closer, he is such a wonderful dad and so besotted with her.

Oh my gosh, the responses that have been received already! I am currently sat with my feet up reading through all of these and getting such a warm feeling in my tummy. A mixture of DS movements and excitement. Thank you all for this, I thought that I would receive one or two responses. This has really just reaffirmed that any sleepless night, lack of alone time and explosive poop are (obviously) so worth it