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.

If anything it’s opened my eyes it would be sexism.
People will ask when my wife and I will “try for a boy” like somehow my daughter can’t do things with me that a son could.

You bet she’s going to help me in the garage when she gets a bit older. She likes cars, and ninja turtles, and princesses. Gender doesn’t have to dictate what you can do or what you can like. I just never really realized the undercurrent of that until I had a daughter.

The things that they say, can really surprise me, like "I love you more than the biggest teddy-bear in all the world". I cried at that for about 10 minutes! How I feel such fierce love for them. I never thought I'd love so much! :)

I hadn't anticipated forming so many new friendships with other Mums and Dads through my children - from baby groups, nursery and later at their schools.

I'm more concerned about the future of the planet. I am also more appreciative of nature, and we spend more time going for long walks in the woods.

I was shocked at losing several "good" friends. They just assumed I wouldn't want to do anything any more and stopped inviting me. Lucky I made lots of new mummy friends to replace them!

I did not realise how difficult it would be to manage a shower when dc were babies or going to the toilet unaccompanied!

Apparently I do have a talent (not sure how proud I am of it!) and am known as the mum who makes the best chips!

I have made some fantastic new friends since having children, something I hadn't really thought about.

less money, less time and less sleep but I would not change a thing

Absolutely no me time, even when they asleep I'm planning or catching up on something for them.

I actually like to think that I didn't really change much after having my baby, but others may disagree!
I maintained all of my friendships which is wonderful and I appreciate that I am very lucky to have that! I think it's more just my outlook on life has changed! I appreciate it much more, and I aim to give my son the best childhood possible! One that is filled with laughter and love. I try to be as calm and firm as possible, but while still being 'me'. If anything, my life is a million times better than it ever really was! I naturally miss the silly things, like sleeping in at the weekend, and popping to the shops whenever I want without a military routine before hand. But all in all, I think I'm still me xo

im a happier more patient person
I thought i was selfless before but having not only a DS but one with aspergers as taught me so much. Just wish hubby and I had more time for us

I have 9 kiddies aged from 15 down to 1. To start with I found it a bit of a change going from working all day usually 47 hour weeks to being at home alone all the time and waiting for hubby to come back from work to get any conversation! I was surprized at quite how many friends that just dropped me once I had a baby :-( but luckily eventually I found new friends with kids and these days my days are so busy organizing things and doing housework that I barely notice being on my own in the day time and for a while it feels like a nice break with a bit of rare quietness when the baby is asleep!

Having the kids has made a big difference, I have far less time and sometimes I wonder what I actually did with all the time I used to have pre-kids!
Post kids I learned to multi-task on an epic level and I'm usually doing 10 things at once! I put the children first 99.9999% of the time and anything they need always comes before anything I would like, but that's OK.

Post-kids I discovered wet-wipes and how useful they are for absolutely everything and wondered how come I didn't know that before?

There is a whole list, but I can't believe how much I love these small (and some not so small!) people. The bond takes you by surprise how deep it is and it's hard to put into words, but you love them so much that you know as a parent you would do anything to protect them and you would die for them if you had to.

Sorry I thought midnight on 26th was this eve - doh!

I didn't realise how much stuff you need to take with you when you have a baby apart from the stroller there is changes of clothes, and bags of things you might need just going to a supermarket isn't easy anymore love my baby to bits but hate getting things ready just to pop out

Ok everything has changed, including the massive responsibility I feel daily and how my whole focus is now on my DCs. I also have no time for myself , which is fine .

my live has changed completly i do not work anymore and have 2 boys one who is severely autistic and need 247 care never have time to do anything ever never go out not in the last 12 years but i would not change this for anything as my boys are the best my older boy helps me with everthing and he is only13 we are really proud of both our boys

Oh lordy....where do i start??

.I never really knew the meaning of TIRED until i had Ronan.
.Christmas has become magical again.
.Talking about your childs bowel movements is a perfectly normal conversation.
.How you can cry because you love someone so much.
.That being proud of things your child has done beats shopping hands down!

I have became so efficient! fitting housework in around naps, and the energy I have found has amazed me. Also the way my husband and I have just automatically fell into the role of mum and dad, everything just seems so natural and I can't remember our lives before our DC came along, the overwhelming feeling of love towards them and the amazement that we created these amazing people.

My daughter has changed my life by becoming my best friend and motivating me to work harder because I wanted to give her anything she could ever want. Now she has been diagnosed with a disease that causes her a lot more pain in the colder months. When she is in the warmth she is like a different child. So we are moving to france. We are learning french and the house is on the market. I have decided I want to spend more time with her than working every hour god sends so I'm taking a less stressful job that pays a lot kess but allows me to be with my family more. Xx

I've gone from having no pets to 2 tortoise, fish and now a dog I'm convinced my kids have the ability to hypnotise I'm putty in their hands.

To spend ages teaching them to walk and talk then forever find yourself saying be quiet and sit down!

Yes the love for your children is nothing that you can describe, it never fades. They are the perfect gift