What’s the best parental advice you’ve ever received? £300 voucher to be won. NOW CLOSED

[PoppyMumsnet]

We’re working with the team at Legal & General to encourage Mumsnetters to get involved with their #ForeverAParent campaign.

The things you do as a parent will last your children’s lifetime, so Legal & General are asking the nation what it means to be forever a parent. Whether your children are six or 60 years old, starting school or starting a family, you’ll always be the person they turn to for advice when it comes to life’s milestones, that’s because you’ll forever be their parent.

Here’s what Legal & General have to say “Your influence, support and advice will stay with your children always - because being a parent doesn’t stop. We’ve been asking parents across the UK what being Forever a Parent really means to them, as each individual is different, and we’d love to hear your views.”

Share what ‘Forever A Parent’ means to you to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 Amazon gift card.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

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A few pearls of wisdom from friends:

"Don't expect much sleep or sex for the first few years"

"I wouldn't bother with any parenting books - the baby hadn't read them"

I'm trying to teach my children about kindness, and myself about being their advocate.

If you say no, mean it ! then stick to your guns and don't give in to a tantrums you will have tantrums for years to come.

trust your instincts

What I always think is that so many people want to advise new mums on parenting, but they've only had a couple more children (in general) than you, and if they have grown up children, that was a long time ago! And they don't have any experience of your child!

I lost my father when I was only 16. He was an awesome fellow - a former CID detective turned private investigator. He'd felt the collar of many a well known East End villain (some of whom appeared at his funeral) and once in the private sector travelled the world infiltrating organised crime.

He always used to tell my brother and me, "Never die curious". This advice has served me better than almost anything else over the years. It applies to career choices, creative endeavours, relationships, and most importantly, in remembering the natural curiosity of children and how vital it is to encourage it.

Don't have too high expectations for holidays/days out etc as a tantrum or illness could make you feel like you've failed. Do what you think is best for your children not waht someone else thinks is best.

One day you'll put your child down and never pick them up again, and you won't even know it.

Sounds sad but basically just comes doen to the simple fact that they change, and how we interact with them changes without us even realising. So try and appreciate each stage for what it is and when your toddler's climbing into your bed, waking you up for a cuddle, take that cuddle and enjoy it as much as you'll wish you could again when they're all grown up.

Be there good or bad and don't make people feel worse if they're already feeling down on themselves

Mistakes are made to be learned from :)

Never let anyone stop you from singing, laughing and being happy.

If you want to keep your friends, don't criticise how they bring up their children.
Don't assume that there's only one good way to bring up a child.

Trust your own feelings and instincts
Talk yo your child like an adult - I do and young children's vocabulary amazes me.
Shape the child to shape the adult
Treat your child as you would like them to treat others

there is no right answer

Trust your instincts & don't sweat the small stuff.
So what if it's the middle of winter & my 4 yo wants to wear sunglasses & sun hat to playgroup. It's really not worth the tantrum & the extra stress of getting out the house. & is proving she will have a unique sense of style as she grows up.

follow your heart and gut you know what is best!

There are a lot of adults walking about so most people get it right, don`t
worry so much.

Your children are your riches.

They'll always be your baby!

I know now that ds1 has Aspergers, but it explains why the screaming wasn't soothed by cuddling. He had colic too. He screamed most of the day and most of the night when he was newborn. As he was our first and I thought I was just a crap mother. My abusive mother, who i was in contact with at the time, told me "The first three months are the hardest, and they feel like they're going to last forever, but they won't.' To other people this probably seems insignificant, but to me it meant everything, because it was the only time that I remember her saying something supportive. Usually she would be nasty.We're not in contact anymore because she started abusing both dcs as well as me. So to me this advice meant so much. I wish she was kind to me more than once.

The best advice is to not listen to advice and do what feels right for you and your family.

my mum told me to choose my battles wisely with a toddler. there is no point challenging every bad behaviour during the day and you need to concentrate on rewarding good behaviour with attention instead of paying attention only when the toddler exhibits anti social behaviour.

Keep calm as there is nothing that cant be solved!

dont take parenting as a competition . every one is different . enjoy time with your children

Stand up for yourself always speak the truth even if there's people that don't want to hear the truth.

Always make time to listen to the little things, otherwise your children may not tell you the big things.

"It's a phase. It won't last forever".

It doesn't but at the time you think it does!