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 grew up having parents who 'did it all' both had high powered successful careers and I assumed I would also be a working mum. But while I have the utmost respect for those who do go back to work I found myself longing to stay at home with my babies.. which I never ever expected. I didn't think it would be possible financially but we have just about managed to make it work so far!

My life changed a lot:

I never thought I would go to bed at 7.30pm so I could get as much sleep as I could before the night feeds. Falling asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow also came as a surprise.

I never realized I could be so organized and fit so much into a day, multi-tasking became a way of life.

I learned to cut both male and female hair - by the time they were old enough to worry about it I was an expert, and fast!

I found I could stay calm for DD's sake when she was hospitalized three times - even the first time when no-one knew what was wrong with her, and she lay silent and motionless and we were in isolation.

I never realized I would have so much fantastic fun, feel such deep love for the DC - and receive so much back from them.

I can clean a bathroom in 5 minutes and do most cleaning in chunk sized pieces rather than spend the whole day doing it.

My multitasking talents are amazing!

I have developed Kofi Anan's negotiating skills too.

Appreciating small things like crunchy leaves in autumn, big cloud in the sky, singing disney songs as loud as we can.
I'm a lot more silly and don't take myself so seriously, I care a bit less about looking polished and groomed.

I would say I'm much more content over all :)

I didn't know how much I would talk about poo! And it's just about to increase when we start potty training soon

I have surprised myself with newfound levels of patience. Tantrum about wanting to hold hot cross buns? Fine. Why not hold the hot cross buns and squash them! I have also learnt always to have snacks on me and to conceal my boredom when reading Topsy and Tim for the eleventy billionth time!

I now find myself spending every weekend involved in a sport that I had absolutely no interest in prior to the arrival of DC. We watch the local team on Saturday, travel across the country to away games, DC has training/matches on Sunday and we go to social events etc. I even have a season ticket and might learn the rules one day!

I look back on lazy weekends when it was just DH and me with long lunches, reading the papers and an afternoon snooze and I wouldn't change it for anything.

So many changes really, both positive and negative.

• lack of personal time
• when they were small I rarely drank a hot cup of tea, it was always Luke warm
• no privacy and small people following you everywhere
• no silence...ever. So many questions.
• as they got older, becoming a referee of pointless arguments

On a positive note

• sharing in little triumphs of little people e.g. First words, steps, going down a slide on their own. Then later exam results, driving tests etc.
• I can achieve a lot quite quickly and can multitask
• memories of happy outings and holidays
• I don't seem to need as much sleep.

A good change for me is it turns out I love cooking! Apparently i'm quite good at it too! I'm no Mary berry but nobody goes short of pies, stews, casseroles and even the odd cake in my house.
I hadn't realised how alone I would feel, as a shy young mum I've really struggled to make mummy friends, it's something i'm still working on even with a 4yo and being pregnant with #2.

since becoming a mum i no longer care about the way i look any more ie hair done etc i only care my kids look presentable , i find myself still watching the kids channels even when my kids have left the room

I take more of an interest in the things that are happening in the world and when bad things happen I worry about what the world will be like when my dc's are adults.

Anything past 7am is a lie in now.

I'm amazed how much I worry - when they were babies (what's that rash? Can they see me?)
then toddlers (will they ever talk? Why don't they clap like their peers?)
Now primary aged (are they learning well? Are they being bullied or being mean to others?)

And I know this will only go on and on.

But like so many others have said I am amazed at their joy for life, how much they can make me laugh, how kind they can be to each other. And nothing can match the days I cook something new for dinner and they all eat it

You have to learn to multi task very quickly. Wherever you go - toilet, bath, shower they come too !! No privacy - but I would not change any of it :D

We don't take anything for granted now, when we found out our daughter was disabled our whole world was turned upside down.... but now we take every day at a time and wouldn't have her or her little brother any other way xx

I have come to understand that I never worry about myself any more just the children.
I value the tiny things in life that money can't buy.
I cannot watch the news if there is anything to do with children suffering.
Everything I do I do it for my babies!

i have 2 little mini me's so through loving them and everything about them, i have learnt to love myself! I never expected that :)

-That its ok if theres pots on the side and washing to be done. It will get done at some point and if it doesn't get done right now thats OK.

• A change in myself in that i fell i'm more 'fun' now the boys are older (2 & 5)

• I care less about what people think

• I use to have mascara and a diary in my handbag, now I can wet wipes and toy cars... and a few sweet wrappers most likely

My social life is so much better. I met an amazing bunch of friends and am often out (with and without DD). I never expected that.

I never realised how creative I was either - always poor at Art! - but homework tasks have brought out a love of glue/glitter/paints and an abundance of imaginative ideas.

Peppa Pig is your new best friend when she buys you 5 minutes peace to get things done! You end up singing along to the nursery rhymes CD, then suddenly realise you dropped the DC off 10 minutes ago...

I HATE SPORT

I have three sons. I spend every waking minute of every weekend wrangling boys around the sport fixtures of southern England, washing kit, arranging lifts.
three means you can never divide and conquer

I still dont understand it, so my life has changed, yes just a bit

Having children led me to volunteer with the local cadet group they had joined. I normally avoid things like PTA etc but found myself helping out with the cadets and now I'm one or the senior members of staff. It's led me to doing all sorts of things I never wold have imagined myself doing, I've learnt to kayak and to row. I've learned how to do drill and I'm going on a tall ship next year with the cadets. I've learned how to cook Christmas dinner for 50 cadets. It's given me new friends and a social life and more confidence in myself!

I no longer get a day off, my days spent not at work are now spent doing laundry, providing taxi services and general marauding.

I long for a night out, get home at about 7am with the papers and go to bed for the morning. Get up about 3pm and go out for something to eat.

My 19 year old daughter moved out in Feb 2014. Moved to nearer her dad to go to college.

I cleaned out her room. Turned it into my long coveted craft room... A few short weeks later. I found out I was pregnant

My life changed drastically. Back to nappies and baby toys!

My life has changed dramatically. Would I change it. Naaaaahhhhh. I'm having to much fun.

that I wouldn't know the names of any of my friends, they're all called 'Alfie's mum' and since i've knnown them years it's too late to ask

Everything changes really... never realised I would constantly carry so many tissues, wipes, small toys, snacks , spare pants etc etc with me everywhere.

Never gave leaving the house a second thought..now trying to get three children up ready, dressed and fed as well as myself then drop off to childcare/school all before work is the norm-I wish I had made more of those lazy mornings where I had time for my own breakfast, had a shower without interuptions, didn't have to lay out everything the night before and had time to spend on my hair and make up!

I would never have guessed that a big part of my day would involve clearing up the same small toys over and over again numerous time a day.

Used to pack a suitcase for holiday and take a bag full of beauty products , books and nice things as hand luggage-Now people gawp as DH and I turn up with 3 children, 5 suitcases, 5 x handluggage , 3 x car seats and a buggy at the airport. (and my handluggage is full of spares, snacks, dummies, toys, sweets and nothing belonging to me!)

Washing ...I think I used to do about 2 loads a week for DH and I !! Now -Pyjamas, clothes, school uniforms, ballet kit, football kits, spare clothes , painted on clothes and so much time trying to remove red bolognaise type stains from clothes

However ..I also laugh and smile a lot and have fun! Games, silly songs and childrens TV theme songs stuck in my head, lovely walks and adventures, playing with new found toys, enjoying my childrens joy of being read to and learning to read, precious family days out or holidays together, playing catch and getting stuck in soft play centre tubes whilst trying to rescue a toddler ..making new friends that you would have never had anything in common with before, rediscovering drawing , crafts and baking that I hadn't done myself since I was a child, planning birthday parties and Christmas activities and lots of hugs kisses and unconditional love...makes the tiredness and housework and relentlessness seem worth it!

Sorry that was long!!