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 make time for your partner as you still need to remain a couple and not just mum and dad

read a book together every day -it sets up a good routine and is a great time to bond with each other.

always carry tissues and wet wipes and always keep a sick bag in your car.

Tomorrow's another day.

Although it would be great to enjoy every moment, not every moment is particularly enjoyable, so keep your expectations of yourself & your little ones realistic.

I agree with the idea of the 'good enough parent'; perfection is exhausting...! And when things do go wrong & you find yourself making the mistakes that you promised yourself you would never make, remember that it is always possible to start again & young children are very forgiving.

Our own moods & emotions can have a massive impact on our little ones. When I found that (particularly) my dd was in a stroppy mood, she really was only reflecting my own mood & if I was more upbeat & positive, then she was more positive too.

If you are at home with preschoolers, try to get out of the house everyday, even if it's just to buy a loaf of bread. Leaving my ds & dd in charge of the shopping list always seemed to keep them engaged, as well as doing funny walks down the supermarket aisles...! 😉

Trust your instincts and learn to stop caring what others think of your parenting - do right by your child/ren.

The only advice I will give is simply..
Take everyone's advice with a pinch of salt..
We each find our own methods and ways.

People made me feel like everything I was doing was wrong with their advice, it made me depressed! These little words of advice came from my grandmother bless her.. she said nothing more than the above and it was more than enough!

Everything is a phase. Enjoy it as much as you can.

Don't buy everything you think you need. Buy the bare essentials & then top up when you know something will be useful.

I think its important to know that you can't be perfect and not to allow yourself to get beat up over it. We all try our best for our children, and sometimes someone elses 'best' seems more 'lucrative' then yours. However, you have different strengths and weaknesses, so let yourself know that x

Stay calm when they drive you mad, it only makes things worse!

Patience, and choose your battles with care

Prepared to be schooled

Don't forget wetwipes!

Don't wish away the 'baby' stage because before you know it they are walking and talking and you wish they would just sit down and be quiet for 5 mins!

Enjoy the stage they are at, don't waste your time wishing for them to grow up, it happens too quickly.

everything changes.good ,bad it always moves on.you can do this.

Take time out when stressed and remember each phase will pass - may get worse though as they get older,as I'm definitely finding, having teenagers now.

enjoy your baby and let your home get messy.

Keep a pack of wipes in every room, your car and your handbag!

Always carry wipes. Never miss a play or a sports day unless it is utterly unavoidable. There will be rows - that's inevitable. No matter how much you try and be a perfect parent, there will be times you'll lose it - don't beat yourself up over it but do learn from it. Put aside your own feelings if you split with a partner and continue to put your child's happiness first. Smile and nod at unsolicited advice and then ignore it. Pat yourself on the back, for as long as you truly love your child you are doing your absolute best.

Always carry wipes! When DD was a baby, I commented to a friend with teenage children that I would be glad when I didn't have to carry around all the paraphernalia. She laughed and said she still carried wipes. I smiled politely but I always remember her words as I pack my bag with wipes despite DD being 8 now.

And there is always time for a cuddle. Even when you're running late.

Use your gut and dont over analise everything they do. Especially with such easy access to the internet and all the contradicting advice to be found on it.

My Top tip is to stick a plastic coat hook on the back of babies highchair and hang clean spare bibs there, always ready and quick to hand

Just trust your own instincts. Everyone offers advice but you know your own child. Smile politely and then do things your way.