I originally wrote this when my little boy was 14 months old and was reminded of it today by a couple of twitter conversations. Another baby and three and a half years later, I still find myself nodding, laughing and cringing as I read down the list.
What about you? What would you add to the list?
- I can survive for a year on 365 nights of broken sleep.
- Entirely serious, deep and meaningful conversations can be had about nappies, teats, breast pads, puree recipes and salt content
- No matter how much you accustom a child to healthy food, there’s just something about chips, chicken nuggets, spaghetti hoops and generally all things junk that is irresistible. Oh and chocolate… definitely chocolate.
- Baby equipment is designed for double-jointed people with 8 hands, x-ray vision and no baby.
- Cinemas are great even if you feel a fool for reaching for the remote every time the volume goes up
- I can remain completely calm while puke is sinking into my hair pouring straight down my cleavage while…
- Squeaky floorboards at 3am will surely reduce me to a blubbering mess, hence…
- The lengths to which I will go to induce sleep.
- It is actually possible to miss job specs, deadlines, procedures and targets – just for a second or maybe two…
- Children’s television producers aren’t just on drugs, they really do know what they’re doing!
- People who say they will never use a dummy are either masochists or still pregnant.
- It is possible for breasts to grow 5 (yes five) cup sizes and feel like completely non-sexual entities – why anyone would actually choose to achieve this through surgery completely escapes me. On that note, however
- How exciting it can be to finally go shopping for normal bras and to be allowed to take all cold medicines again
- The extortionate price of children’s shoes
- Planning about ten years ahead when you move house
- You can hold a lot of tension in your scalp (I didn’t realise that was even possible!)
- Online shopping saved my sanity
- While you need friends who have babies and can relate to you, I never realised how important it is to have friends who don’t have babies. There’s the obvious breath of fresh air to talk about life on the outside, then there’s the fact that they are genuinely shocked and/or impressed by your achievements
- How babies know just the right time to give you that beaming smile, gurgle, chuckle or cuddle that makes absolutely everything all better (and I thought that was my job?)
- It’s a cliche but yes, how quickly time flies
It’s by no means a comprehensive (or balanced) list, just what stands out at the moment. I’d love to hear what you would add, please let me know in the comment box below.
I so remember you compiling this list!!! It took me back a few years and still makes me smile when I read it today. Some things at age 5 and 3 are still true but for different reasons, that gorgeous smile with a pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaasssse attached to it, when the answer was no! The sleepless nights (not so frequent) with nightmares over lost beakers! Wishing you’d bought Clark’s shoes in September as we were on our 2nd pair by Easter and sandals by Whit half term! Returning to work to be Karen not mummy was a godsend, people would ask me what the best thing about being back was and could never quite believe me when I said going to to toilet on my own!!!!! But still I love them with all my heart and I wouldn’t be without them (but the odd hour or two is nice!). xxx
You’ve captured that beautifully Karen. I love your examples. And to think we give our children stickers for going to the toilet on their own!
Fabulous examples of what motherhood means, and a testement to all of us who manage to survive the ride 🙂
I have to add just one thing though, I never realised how much I would actually like them.