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Original poster

Mumsnet needs your best parenting tips!

213 replies

Justine (mumsnet) · 21/10/2004 14:36

As part of the publicity for our forthcoming TV extravaganza - Mums the Word on Discovery Health (due on Nov 8th) - we are putting together a piece for the Guardian on mums' the top tips/ advice/ mantras from the parenting front line. It's supposed to be fairly light-hearted and witty - which is where you come in - and can be anything from something you wish you'd known much earlier to a really practical solution to an everyday parenting problem that you never would have dreamed would have worked before you'd tried it. The idea is to be a bit more colourful/ amusing than our usual daily tip on the home page so feel free to embellish a bit and use anecdotes. Many thanks in advance - can't wait to see them.

OP posts:
MrsDoolittle · 27/10/2004 14:16

Yes Definately! My dh sounds like yours, Issymum

Chuffed · 27/10/2004 15:18

That the two of us together can achieve anything.
That he would be just as good a mum as me. That I have a fight on my hands to be a SAHM as he wants to be a SAHD.

hatter · 27/10/2004 22:14

I'd forgotten - I learnt that dh could make a damn good midwife! - he delivered dd2 before the ambulance could get to us.

motherinferior · 27/10/2004 22:22

That men who are totally, completely hopeless around pretty well every aspect of pregnancy and childbirth, maintain an infuriatingly ostrich-like position for nine months, are totally unsupportive of plans for home birth, don't even get round to reading about the different stages of labour, and shudder when presented with the opportunity to cut the umbilical cord...can be completely hands-on fathers.

However, I have to add that nothing has changed my conviction that Men Are Very Odd.

Blackduck · 28/10/2004 10:35

Our experience of producing a child and being parents has confirmed everything I ever thought about him. He is more patient, more easy going, and more relaxed than I am. And messy!!
I don't think its that men can't multitask, I think they chose not to. He will focus totally on ds whilst I am thinking about tea, putting out the bin, ringing my mother and million and one other things.

I have also learnt that I'm in third place these days - below ds and the dog!

Mum2girls · 28/10/2004 15:55

That DP who in every other aspect, has the sense of smell to rival a bloodhound, can tell me with a straight face that he can't smell the newly deposited man-size poo in his DD's nappy three feet from him.

colditzmum · 28/10/2004 20:52

That feminism has done me no favours! I now have to cook, clean, wash clothes, look after child PLUS go to work, share living costs, make important decisions and balance the chequebook, speak to the bank manager ...... men are so generous - they are always willing to let you totally organize every aspect of their life.

aloha · 29/10/2004 11:32

Colditzmum, you don't have to you know! You are only teaching learned helplessness. My dh is a perfectly normal, working class, northern bloke whose mum did everything in the house, but it certainly isn't that way in our family. As we speak, dh has returned from the supermarket with the children, is emptying the dishwasher and will make dinner tonight. None of it is rocket science. Custardo is particularly eloquent on this point.

Original poster
Justine (mumsnet) · 29/10/2004 12:36

It's your last chance to submit your words of wit and wisdom. I'm filing this on Monday so if you've any last thoughts please post them today or on the weekend.
Thanks to all those who've already contributed.

OP posts:
hmb · 29/10/2004 12:44

Get one of those 'radio' phones that will allow you to walk about the house while you talk. That way you can wipe bottoms, sort out fights, do the ironing while you chat to friends. Fail to do this and you will never chat on the phone again

cardigan · 29/10/2004 12:59

Spod - so true - height of toddler & snot marks!!
My tip - learn to breastfeed standing up & moving around - it's the only way to keep up your other with small children plus manage potty traing at the same time.

prettycandles · 29/10/2004 14:28

Toddlers can shop-lift without you knowing it even when you think you haven't taken your eyes off them for one second.

Cam · 29/10/2004 16:44

You must accept that once your child can talk they will from then on know more than you - you will become more stupid in inverse proportion to their increasing knowledge!

hatter · 31/10/2004 20:13

In the interests of sticking two fingers up at Anna Pasternack, one thing I have learnt from having my own kids and from knowing other people with kids is that there is no correlation whatsoever between age, intelligence, career (prospects or actual), expectations, the extent to which you want a child, the happiness of your own childhood or, pretty much anything to be honest, and the amount you enjoy having children and the extent to which you find it boring or utterly fascinating, or kind of somewhere in the middle. Generalisations are pretty pointless when it comes to having kids and everyone (which includes the parents and the children)is different

hatter · 31/10/2004 20:13

In the interests of sticking two fingers up at Anna Pasternack, one thing I have learnt from having my own kids and from knowing other people with kids is that there is no correlation whatsoever between age, intelligence, career (prospects or actual), expectations, the extent to which you want a child, the happiness of your own childhood or, pretty much anything to be honest, and the amount you enjoy having children and the extent to which you find it boring or utterly fascinating, or kind of somewhere in the middle. Generalisations are pretty pointless when it comes to having kids and everyone (which includes the parents and the children)is different

motherinferior · 31/10/2004 20:19

Ooooh, Hatter, just how I'd have put it if I had the capacity. Well done that woman.

Original poster
Justine (mumsnet) · 03/11/2004 10:32

Today's Guardian everyone! G2 page 10-11.
Many thanks to all.

OP posts:
Marina · 03/11/2004 10:33

Good article Justine. Now what provision is being made for Mners who don't have cable/Sky??

Original poster
Justine (mumsnet) · 03/11/2004 10:40

None whatsoever!

OP posts:
Marina · 03/11/2004 10:43

Snivel...you antiterrestrialites, you...there is going to be a thriving black market on here for copies you realise

JanH · 03/11/2004 10:46

link ...soupie has scored big again!

Original poster
Justine (mumsnet) · 03/11/2004 10:48

If so, I have a strong suspicion you'll be laughing at us, not with us. Here's a link to the G2 piece
By the way, just had a call from a journalist to say: "Who are these women? They should be writers!"

OP posts:
Tommy · 03/11/2004 10:49

Congratulations! What a great ad for Mumsnet

motherinferior · 03/11/2004 10:49

Oooh, should we ?

oliveoil · 03/11/2004 10:54

Not read all of these, have no spare energy, but my parenting tip would be to not have children 22 months apart unless you want panda eyes, a dump of a house, a grumpy spouse and stooped shoulders.

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