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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I always told my children they did not ask to be born but now they are here I am here for them always. Forty + years on they are still here asking for advice and hugs and the 6 grandchildren are happy to ask for love, advice and help. I love them all equally they all deserve respect.

Buy secondhand where you can - kids grow out of EVERYTHING very quickly. Prams, toys, clothes, even food or drink. Ignored it for my first child but took it onboard for number 2

"All this will pass."
The desperate exhaustion of 4am screaming, food refusal, pooey pants etc.
But so too will the precious times, so cherish them.

Listen well!
Pick your battles!

We are all descended from hunter-gatherers. If your child does not share your views on eating their ‘five a day’ it’s not a major fail on your part or theirs!
Much easier to look at food intake over a 2-3 day period. If carb heavy one day, increase proteins & fruits the next. It’s worked a treat for ours!

Pick your battles
Stay in the present - don't wish them away, ie first tooth, first word etc etc they grow up too fast

My mom always tells me to make sure I write everything down, because as time goes on, I will forget all those small little miracles that, at the time, I feel like I will remember forever.

And she is right- I have already forgotten so much, and my son is only 17 months old, so I have started writing him emails that are kind of like a journal for me, and will one day become the stories of his life for him.

Oh, also, my Grandma told me (and tells me) not to forget who I am, as that will shape who he is. And I haven't.

Oh, also, one more.

My parents ALWAYS said to call them anytime, day or night, if something was wrong and I was unsafe. They always promised never to be mad, they would always be proud of me for making the right choice.

One night some friends and I went out and got drunk. I had my mom's car with me. I seriously considered driving home because I was worried I would be in trouble. But, I called. They were amazing. Came to get me and the car and even took my friends and I for McDonalds en route home.

It was the only time I needed it, in that way, but it stuck with me as something I need to ensure my son knows: 24/7, for his life, as long as I am alive, I will be there for him when he needs me.

Let your children get bored, it’s great for their imagination!

Also, they will walk when they walk and not to compare them with other kids. No one bum shuffles into a dinner party

When my DTs were born, I'll always remember the advice my lovely HV gave me. "Don't compare them." They have turned out to be just about as different from one another as it's possible to get, and I'm really glad I took this advice on board early on.

Also, many irritating, noisy plastic toys are not dishwasher safe.

The best advice I have ever had was from my father is to lead by example. Believe in your children, encourage them in everything they do. When they make mistakes be there to pick up the pieces. Love unconditionally.

"You are the best mother your child will ever have"

Don't sweat the small stuff

If they won't sleep sit in their room and ignore them, they'll tire eventually and sleep and then you can leave.

Forever a parent means ALWAYS being there. My parents used to say to me "wherever you are, whatever time it is, whatever you have done or need, I will come and get you if you need me" and that also applied to my friends. If we were ever on a night out and got too drunk, or somebody took something they oughtn't to have taken, mum was always on hand, without judgment or repercussions and I kept that with me forever.
That is something I want to instill into my daughters because being safe is so important, and I want them to know they are never alone

To relax and stop stressing about the little things - along the lines of pick your battles!

forever a parent means putting your self at the back of the queue for many years to come, always putting them first second and third, yes you have bedtime when theirs is, eat around them, loose you social life, watch endless hours of kids TV and loose touch with the outside world and what is going on for days, no..weeks at a time. But being a good parent means you have fulfilment, joy and pride which nothing else on earth can give you.

Mine was actually via a friend at school whose sister was quite a bit older than us. She said that her parents had put £400 into her sister's account and told her to treat it as a zero balance. I have always done something similar and it has really kept me out of debt. It would never have occurred to me otherwise.

Not being bad with money (I am definitely not great but at least not terrible) definitely makes life easier. It would have taken me a lot longer to learn this without my school friend sharing things like this with me.

Answer every question truthfully. Trust is a two-way thing.

Trust your instinct, regardless of what family and friends and even doctors say, you know your baby best.

You never stop worrying. It's just the type of worries that change. When a baby - is he/she growing enough? When a toddler - will he/she ever learn that it is dangerous to climb on furniture? When starting primary school - will he/she make friends? When at high school - will he / she cope with exams?

But don't let these worries take over and find something to laugh about everyday.

My best piece of advice is not to compare your child to others. I think sometimes if a friends baby is sleeping through and yours isn’t you feel like yours should be. Just accept the current situation which might be a crappy nights sleep or a baby that doesn’t want to wean. But really cherish and celebrate those moments when your child sleeps for over 5 hours in a row or doesn’t spit out all of its puréed peas! It’s also good to sometimes remind yourself that it’s not forever! Your baby will one day sleep through in their own bed and use a toilet!

When they're babies 'Sleep when they sleep'

It’s (another) phase... it will all be different this time tomorrow/next week/next month...

To never compare and dispair

Many times parents Listen to others parents and how well little johnny is doing and he's doing this and he's doing that and start to worry because there little one isn't doing as much as johnny and why not.

This advice is the best now I have number 2. I do realize that every child is an individual and it's not a competition on who can do what first