Nurofen for Children want to hear how your life has changed in unexpected ways since having your DC - £300 voucher prize draw! NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

Nurofen for Children have asked us to find out how Mumsnetters’ lives have changed since having children.

Here’s what they say, “It’s no surprise that 88% of first time mums reflect on having a baby as a life changing experience as they rework their normal routines to take care of their little one. During their baby’s first year, over two thirds of mums say they felt the biggest impacts on their relationships (65%), work life (65%) and friendships (55%).i

“Almost half of those questioned describe the first year as full of love and amazement.i during the early months in particular, 29% say they struggled with feelings of loneliness and over half (52%) felt that they had lost their identity since becoming a mum.i After friendships changed, 52% say they felt a need to make a new group of friends who could relate to their parenting experiences.”

“Nurofen for Children is trusted by parents – 9/10 parents who used it would recommend it to a friend.iii

“Nurofen for Children understands how daunting it can be going through so many changes, especially in the early months of parenthood. To help you through this life changing but magical period, you need advice you can trust and products you can rely on.”

So, what changes have you experienced since having children which you perhaps hadn’t quite anticipated? Perhaps you actually all of a sudden become a lot more efficient at doing things? Have you uncovered a hidden talent and become an expert fancy dress designer and creator? Or maybe you didn’t appreciate how it would now take you three times so long to get ready in the morning? Whatever it is, we’d love to hear it!

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 Love2Shop voucher!

Thanks
MNHQ

Terms and conditions:

• To enter the competition answer the question above
• To enter, you must be: A) A UK resident; and b) 18 years old or over at the time of entry and c) a registered member of Mumsnet
• Competition closes at midnight on Thursday 26th November 2015
• Entries posted after the closing date will not be considered
• One winner will be chosen from all winning entries
• Mumsnet will choose the winner at random after the closing date
• Mumsnet will contac the winner privately to organise delivery of the prize
• The prize is £300 Love2Shop vouchers
• Full terms and conditions here

Nurofen for Children 3 months to 9 years Orange / Strawberry. Nurofen for Children Orange / Strawberry 3 months to 12 years (weighing over 5kg). Contains Ibuprofen. For relief of fever. Always read the label.

iSurvey of 2,000 mums by One Poll, commissioned by Nurofen for Children (October 2013)
iiSurvey of 2,000 parents with a baby under 6 years old, commissioned by Nurofen for Children (May 2014)
iiiSurvey of Mum’s Views of 141 mums ‘9 out of 10 mums who used NfC would recommend it to a friend’. Last accessed August 2013.

I've done so many things I would never have done if it wasn't fo the girls, I've tried Stand up Paddle, Windsurfing, Kite Surfing and my youngest daughter started Scuba Diving at 10 yrs old so I did my PADI with her and we dived with sharks in Florida last year !!!!!

I've become a lot more assertive. I'm an introvert with low self esteem but since having DS and knowing I'm responsible for him I have begun to stick for myself a lot more. It's very odd and I did not expect it.

I am now so very aware of every little danger, real or imaginary.

My life changed forever after the birth of my daughter. I have, of course, always been upset at the plight of children who are suffering but since having my own daughter this has been magnified. Child cruelty makes me crumble. I now work in Child Protection in my role at work and even when my own daughter might be driving me up the wall I just can't wait to get home and cuddle her to bits after a gruelling day. I am in genuine awe of people who carry on after losing a child because I can barely allow the thought to enter my head. I cannot imagine living on this earth without her.

no more buying expensive clothes for myself, im lucky if i get a new jumper at xmas, the kids are my priority

My life has changed since having my DCs, especially my oldest. He got into grassroots football and then myself and my husband also got involved. He became a coach and I got a job through our local youth football league, just shows how these things can lead to other things!

I never thought I would be one of those mums who tweeted and facebooked every little step and achievement that my daughter makes, dear god how I hated those parents....AND now I find myself smiling and doing it all of the time tooooooo!

Is it a requirement of being a mum, or am I just sad?! :/

I learnt that being a parent you have to be selfless and share virtually everything, you give your heart away when you are a mum.

I concentrate on feelings and relationships rather than materialistic matters when younger

I have learned that it is actually possible to function on very little sleep

• That there was a primal beast locked inside of me just waiting to be unleashed if anyone hurt my child.
• How much I could like my body...I'm so proud that I grew her!
• How bloody responsible you have to be all of the time when someone needs you as much as a baby does.
• How little sleep you can survive a day on...and a year for that matter (bleurg :()
• How much I could love somebody.

I didn't expect to become an expert in so many random things:

• knew the name, make and model of every tractor / farm vehicle in existence when my DS was 2
• became an expert in the antics of the Octonauts, and was able to recite numerous facts about most underwater creatures when he was 3
• was able to remember the name and vital statistics of over 20 small cuddly dogs that he collected when he was 4
• knew more than I ever wanted to know about the Ninja Turtles when he was 5
• and now I am able to tell you more about Star Wars than I thought was possible, and he is working on teaching me the names of all of the Lego Star Wars models that he would like to own (yes, there are lots!!)

Oh, and of course became an expert in making Birthday cakes that represent all of these interests. Wouldn't change it for the world though!

I have learnt that I need to let some things go, to organise my time for children. The most unexpected thing is how much your life changes and how happy I am that it has changed.

How much you can love someone who could possibly drive you towards insanity.

How amazing my body is

How much you love to smell baby hair

How to juggle different types of love and make everyone happy (well most of the time)

How to make seriously delish pancakes,muffins,cookies,brownies etc

How to create Dis-organised organised chaos and make it look good

How to give 'the look'

How to state my piece

How to wear my 'Bad Cop/ Reasonable Cop' badge with pride

How to realise being a parent is cool and precious

How to bargain hunt ...better than ever

How to realise stuff can be ok and crazy at the same time

How to never pee on your own

I've learnt to survive on very little sleep. The days of 8 hours sleep, and a lovely lie in are long gone! But do you know, you wouldn't change it for a second. That's what is unexpected!

Ive gone from stressed out professional to very happy housewife!

I never took much out with me, phone and purse would be plenty, but now I take a huge bag for every contingency. I also used to be quite efficient at getting out of the house, now it seems to take forever. I miss being just me, but I wouldn't change my children.

Hi everyone, thanks for posting on this thread. The thread has now closed and I'm pleased to announce the winner of the prize draw: Laflouder, congratulations! We'll be in touch soon

multitasking.
you don't realise until you have had children, how many jobs you can do at once.

I find it unbelievable how long it now takes just to leave the house even for a quick trip to the shops, and how the most seemilngly trivial things can be discussed for days, weeks even like a single tooth appearing or a number 1 or number 2.
Showering is a quick in and out and taking a bath would be classed as a true luxury

I have become less emotional, no time to overthink and get tearful. Just the priority of caring becomes an all consuming compulsion and life changing experience.

I found that my friendships changed and have grown a new network of friends from both of my daughters. We help each other out such as lifts and babysits and are shoulders to cry on when things get down.

I left it until I was 30 until I had my first and to be honest I love it better than not having kids, but still I would like more sleep.

don't get time to blow dry my hair now and I don't care :)

For me the biggest challenge has been stigma. I have an autistic child who looks completely normal, yet acts very differently. I have been accused of been a bad mum, a young mum, you name it - they have said it.

Now, I have a diagnosis for him (it took 7 years) and I am stronger - although each day is still a learning curve