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

I would say always try and keep calm as getting frustrated won't help anyone

Phases tend to last about 6 weeks or so, so whether you're in a good phase or a bad phase, another will be along in a bit...

My advice Is treasure every minute. They grow up far to fast. Each day they have learned something new. Don't stress in the unimportant things concentrate on the important things as they are only.little once.

My advice Is treasure every minute. They grow up far to fast. Each day they have learned something new. Don't stress in the unimportant things concentrate on the important things as they are only.little once.

Parenting is full of contradictions;
You spend ages talking to your babies waiting for those first precious words, then when they are older you would give anything for them to be quiet, just for 5 minutes.
You want them to walk then you worry where they have got to.
With wee ones you are desperate for them to sleep in in the mornings because you are so shattered. Then when they are teens you are shouting upstairs at 1 on a weekend afternoon for them to get out of bed and stop wasting the day.
Also babies don't read the baby books, they have no idea what "they are supposed to do".

Don't get your hopes up - if you think two nights of good sleep (or equivalent) means things are sorted, you're going to be disappointed. We spent a lot of time with DD1 thinking we had cracked things only for her to demonstrate we most definitely hadn't the next night!

Find what works for you and your family. Don't worry what everyone else says they're doing and whether they're doing it better or not. Everyone has their own struggles, whether they show it or not.
Nothing is set in stone so go with the flow. Phases change constantly, so what works now might not next week, that's fine, just work with it.
Soon your worries will all be forgotten and will be a very distant memory.
Not everything needs planning. If you feel like you need to slow down and take a break, then just chill out. Children don't need to be constantly stimulated by activities that you provide for them, let them figure things out for themselves.
Don't compare yourself and your children to others, it's unrealistic and the snapshot they show you won't necessarily be true to reality.
Take lots of pictures and videos, not only of the children, but the whole family for you all to look back on as they grow.

Everyone has an opinion on how you should parent. If it works for you, your significant other, and your dc then keep doing it till it doesn't work

Accept things are different. Someone else and their needs will always come first now, but the intensity will fade in time and you will get back to 'you' one day.

Take muslins and wipes everywhere!

Nobody is perfect, despite what you may believe. You will feel "mum guilt" no matter what so just remember its ok to have bad days, its ok to feel like you are struggling, there will be days where you nail it and other days you wont. This is what parenting is like, its not all sunshine and roses, some days are really shit. But as long as your kids are loved, fed, clothed and cared for then that truly is all that matters.

Don't compare your child to any other child. They are developing at their own pace!

I think try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Don't think you should know it all, no one knows what they are doing really. Everyone is just trying their best!

I've learned to pick my battles.

They are not babies for long, tell them that you love them ,
Time goes by so fast before you know it they will be going to school!!

Words of wisdom that have stayed with me for the 4 years I have been a parent..

1. Parenting is hard! Everyone struggles - especially in the early days - some people just do a better job of hiding it!

1. Do what you can to make life easier for you, so you can spend more time with baby - order groceries online, batch cook meals (or even better, get someone to do that for you!) & reheat during the week.

1. Make your bedroom a haven - supersoft bedding, a soothing nightlight - maybe classic fm or some soothing music if it isn't disruptive to you or to baby.. do nightfeeds in comfort, relaxed & cosy. For some bizarre reason - I felt I had to get up & go downstairs every time which was knackering for me & probably for baby too!

1. Invest in a few nursery rhyme CDs - they come in handy for learning the words (all over again!) & use them to distract during nappy changes, in the car, etc.

1. As they get older, embrace the new challenges - in those moments when you just want to scream (when they refuse to brush their teeth, do a protest wee in the new clothes they've just changed into or throw their dinner across the room) - tell yourself this will seem funny in a few years, it's just a stage & it DOES get easier!

Embrace it, what else can you do?! :) :)
It's an amazing journey & so, so rewarding - but it is tiring, so accept any help offered :)

Pick your battles!

I have learned that if you can't understand why they're behaving the way they are - there is every chance they don't understand why they are either! Try to take a step back from frustrating situations, especially those that you seem to revisit on a daily basis. A deep breath and changing the subject or distracting can work wonders for the sanity

Just relax! If you are tense and stressed, your baby/child will pick up on it. The early years go far too quick theres no time wasting it feeling stressed, every day is a new day!

When in doubt and despite all the media's parenting advice, just go with your instinct

For babies: you can never have too many babygros and muslin squares. Every baby is different and if you have one that sleeps the other won't!
Read and sing as much as you can to your kids. Go to baby groups, parks and libraries for free fun activities. Don't worry too much about the housework.
Do what's right for your family, what works for one family might not be right for another.

Make the most of every moment together, I know everyone says it when your pregnant 'time goes so quickly " but it's true it does ! Enjoy days out, be spontaneous, get messy and most importantly have fun. One day I will miss this little cheeky smile when she's grown up and our peppa pig days are over.

Parenting is an ever changing thing. No books, no advice from others, nothing can prepare you for finding your iphone in the washing machine.

I would just say enjoy every moment as they grow up so fast! Even those sleepless nights are time with your little one and they are prescious

My advice is not to take any notice of any advice if you haven't asked for it.
It can be unhelpful, upsetting and sometimes dangerous. You tend to know best and if you do want help then you'll ask for it. So if someone tries to tell you what you should and shouldn't be doing, smile, nod and ignore

Every parents needs to remind themselves that this phase will pass (if things are tough). Also means treasuring those early moments as time flies by. Take lots of photos too.