Share your parenting words of wisdom with Fairy Non Bio - £300 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

Parenting - it's one hell of a journey and most of us have the sick-stained clothes, under-eye bags and laughter lines to show for it. But if you were going to distil down your experiences to one essential must-know fact, what would it be? Fairy Non Bio would like you to share your words of parenting wisdom for anyone embarking on this journey.

So, what are the essential things that you feel every parent needs to know? Maybe it's to enjoy the all-too fleeting moments of parenting joy, or know that you can never take too many photos. Perhaps you've had a moment of clarity when it comes to dealing with tantrums (toddler or teenage) or there are things you'd do very differently if you could have the time all over again.

Share your essential words of wisdom below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Always carry baby wipes even when you think they are too old to need them.
Don't constantly compare your child with others they all develop at the own rate and catch up eventually.
Trust your instincts - there is so much conflicting advise about
Enjoy every minute they will be "kevin" the teenager before you know it and that brings whole new challenges.

It won't last forever- even the bad times (ESPECIALLY the bad times 'this too shall pass')

Wipes will cure a multitude of sins.

A bit of mud never hurt anyone.

Stop beating yourself up, you're doing your best and it IS enough, even on those days where everything feels wrong. In 5, 10, 20 years you won't care if the hoovering wasn't done and the ironing mound was taller than your toddler... spend as much time as you can doing the things that matter and quit the guilt.

Sleep when the baby sleeps - we went to bed at 7.30 pm in the early stages. This really helped.

Don't try to establish a routine - be led by your baby - but initially daytime naps should be taken downstairs in daylight with nighttime being in total darkness. During the night meet all your baby's needs but have very low lighting and be boring! This helps them learn the difference between day and night.

Don't "potty train" - it turns into a competitive sport. You can lead a child to the potty but you cannot make him pee (nor can you train a bladder which is not yet mature enough). At intervals when you think they might be ready explain the potty etc. and offer a choice of nappies or potty. Eventually they will choose the potty, have one or two accidents and that will be it. You will have avoided all the carpet cleaning and clothes washing etc.

Time saved by not potty training frees more time for reading and playing with your DC.

Enjoy your DC - time passes so quickly.

Keep telling your children to live their dreams and never settle for something that doesn't truly make them happy.

Embrace and enjoy every moment of their childhood because they grow up too fast. Don't worry about little things and get yourself worked up. Don't care if your house is a mess. Baby and you are more important

that sun can get rid of any stain!

be prepared to be wrong. let your children see that you can make mistakes and still survive.

Kids will eat when they are hungry. As long as they eat something through the day don't stress if it isn't at the exact time you wanted or the type of food you had planned.

Trust yourself, the 'professionals' aren't always correct

Trust your instincts and listen to them before listening to anyone else, you know your child the best. And keep a stash of babywipes :)

Always ask for help if you need it don't struggle on your own.

Not all toddler are eaters. Don't be pulling your hair out over it. Once they are not losing weight then it's fine.

Don't compare your child to others. They will develop at their own pace.

Trust in yourself, do your own research or just have a heart to heart with your gut instincts, and remember that everyone else's view may be suited to them but not necessarily to you.

Parenting is a minefield but if you relax and do what feels right for you then it's so much easier, and when you make a decision do not fret over it afterwards or guilt trip yourself. And never allow strangers to guilt trip you over any parenting decision.

Give yourself credit. You are always doing better than you think you are!

Trust yourself, don't let everyone else interfere too much.

Teens - divorce them!! They hate everything you say and do so do what needs to be done and say everything with perfect clarity for them. They will rebel at full pelt but don't waiver! DS has realised if his kit isn't in the wash on time he has to do his own over the last 3 weeks.

Don't let the bad days get to you, you will do better tomorrow and your children love you no matter what.

share everything - the worries, the work load , the sleepness nights and of course the joy

Expect the unexpected, always pack MORE than you think you will need for a holiday/day out, and never expect to get a good nights sleep EVER again!!

My advice would be to pick your battles, don't stress the small stuff - if you're constantly nitpicking the kids won't take as much notice when you actually have something worthy of making a drama out of.

Dont beat yourself up if everything doesn't go exactly how you imagined all of the time, thats just life!

A messy house is a happy house

Take videos and pictures, but not TOO many! A picture may capture a beautiful moment and a video lets you relive it, but the best memories of all are stored in your brain when you live in the moment.

Always carry food...and baby wipes! Often, temper tantrums can be put down to low blood sugar so a quick snacky pep-up can resolve the ugliest of public meltdowns! The baby wipes are just perfect for keeping little hands and faces clean at all times!

Pick your battles and develop a good sense of humour