There are things I have experienced since being a parent, that I would never have imagined possible pre-kids. Looking back to when I was younger (it’s not that long ago you know!), I think of certain luxuries things that I took for granted. Starting with those cosy lie-ins, with nothing more to worry about other than who’s getting out of bed to make a cuppa! Being able to go to the bathroom in peace, oh my days, do you remember that distant memory too?
Now lie in’s are all about catching 10 minutes before the littles bully me out of bed. The bathroom is never a peaceful affair anymore. As soon as I get into the bath, more traffic accumulates than the M1! I try to relax with the calming glow from my sweet smelling candles, whilst holding a conversation with my little one, whilst he takes a poo. And speaking of poo, when it’s the kid’s bath time, I’ve actually found myself fishing a stray poo out of the bath with my bare hands! It’s quite funny looking back really at some of the things we end up doing. At times I could have literally pulled my hair out, in fact, it’s a miracle I don’t need a hair transplant!
Although there have been some very trying times, I wouldn’t change it for the world. My boys are my whole life. Although it would be pretty awesome to have a bath without my sons bum overpowering my candles!
I thought I would share some of the things other bloggers have experienced in the crazy world that is parenthood, enjoy!
The highs and lows of Parenting
Laura – Five Little Doves I wasn’t expecting the amount of bodily fluids that I clean up each day – the poo explosions, wee on my carpet, projectile vomit, snotty noses and bloody knees!
Katie – Katy Kicker I wasn’t expecting my daughter to start projectile vomiting at 10 days old and then basically not stop for the first year! Allergies suck, but not as much as trying to convince people it was projectile vomit, her entire stomach contents, and not just normal baby sick!
Emily Higgins – Twin Mummy And Daddy To feel so emotional following the birth of my twins that I cried pretty much all day every day! They were premature which didn’t help, but I would just find myself crying for no reason.
Debbie – My Boys Club I never expected to be in a household of boys who just find fart jokes so funny. They never get tired of them (unlike me – lol).
Claire – The Pramshed To feel so emotionally drained for 3 weeks! I honestly thought I would never get out of it, but eventually it got easier. Taking a break away from London with my husband and new baby definitely helped.
Sarah – Run Jump Scrap! For my patience to improve so much! I’m usually terrible but you have to be calm and patient with them or you would be exploding every 5 minutes!
Nicola – A Blogs life Picking your little ones nose after they put something up it.
Stephanie – Renovation Bay-Bee I wasn’t expecting to fall pregnant with identical twins!
Becka – Mummy est.2014 I wasn’t expecting to love boys clothes shopping as much I do. I have never considered myself a fashion follower but with my little boy I love looking for clothes in shops, online and on Facebook for sale pages. I love seeing him in coordinated outfits haha. It’s becoming an obsession.
Nadia – Scandi Mummy I never expected all the rough and tumble. Having an energetic toddler definitely means a lot of physical fun and active play. Though luckily it also means lots of cuddles!
Beth – Life As Mum I wasn’t expecting to suffer with postnatal depression and anxiety! I heard about it but never expected it to actually experience it myself!
Beth Law – Twinderelmo How far you can let yourself go… and be ok with it!
Simone Baker – Married To A Geek How far a child can actually aim sick.
How you just know, with that one facial expression that you either need to get out of the supermarket or prepare to ride out the impending child meltdown that will hit in exactly 5 seconds.
Danielle – Someone’s Mum How it changes you emotionally forever. Fear is more frightening, watching others suffer is more painful, love is more vibrant than it was before.
Lauren – Sophie’s Nursery I wasn’t expecting to spend so much time watching Peppa Pig.
Helen Gandy – Beautiful Things That I couldn’t just ‘pop’ out anymore. It was such a weird feeling that I had to take this small, wriggly thing with me and that I had to keep him alive lol.
Mary – Over 40 And A Mum To One That it would be years before I could go to the toilet in peace or have a hot cup of tea.
Emma Reed I never expected to still be tired… or perhaps even more tired three years later.
Lisa – That British Betty The teenage years. I’m currently in the thick of raising two teenage girls and it’s been much more difficult than I ever imagined. Partially as I miss the ‘younger years’ of spending all our time together, baking and family days out. Now they don’t want to be around me (or adults in general) much, focusing solely on their own social lives. This stuff is ‘normal’ I guess but then we’re also dealing with serious issues such as self-harm, drinking, skipping school and mental health problems. I have no idea how to handle the darker side of parenting and its utterly terrifying at times. I wish I’d have been better prepared/more knowledgeable about these potential pitfalls before they hit puberty but we’re slowly finding a way together.
Kai – Kaiden Laverty I never expected to be forced to ‘eat’ toy trains and be overly thankful because they taste amazing. I also never expected to say “No, fizzy drinks and jaffa cakes are not breakfast food” 5 times before 10am!
Leah – Home Family Life I never expected to struggle as much as I have with returning to work after maternity leave. Before baby was here I definitely wanted to continue working. But now I’d quite happily give it up if circumstances allowed.
Carla – Random Thoughts Of A Twenty Something Just quite how content I would be with wiping my kids snot on my sleeve so it would go on their clothes! I should be grossed out but it doesn’t phase me now nine years on.
Eva – Captain Bobcat Never expected not to be back to work for 3 years now, and counting. Never expected to be the stay at home mum, not in a million years. That’s it’s nearly impossible to find your way back to your professional self, given the commute, wages, nursery places and prices.
Christopher – The Opinionated Dad For me it’s the fact that dads are mainly dismissed or spoke to like they don’t get involved with their children. For example I spend the most time with my daughter and when we go out alone people would make comments like it’s nice to see a dad giving the mum a break or it’s nice to see a dad spending time with their child for a change. These remarks do anger me a bit. I find them a bit sexist like it’s not normal for a dad to be the main parent.
Kathryn – Mummy’s Little Lists Fishing vomit out of my cleavage.
This parenting lark is hardcore!
Can you relate to any or all of these?!
*This is a collaborative post*
So many truths! Thanks for including mine
Oh my goodness yes to all of these! I relate to each and every single one of these….parenting sure throws you some major curveballs! Some fab bloggers included here.
Haha love this post, part of me wishes I had known and yet part of me thinks it’s probably a good thing I didn’t!!!
Oh yes I can definitely relate to nearly all of these there are many highs of parenting which make the lows all the more worth it.
That’s a lot of not expecting points of view lol. I get you. It’s certainly changed my life but like you I wouldn’t change this for the world. I wasn’t expecting to love someone so much!
Great list, funny and emotional. I found practically ALL of it unexpected!
Oh gosh so many of these I can relate to! Parenting is such a roller-coaster and an uncertain one at that. It keeps us on our toes and forces us to face some of our worst fears, but of course it’s all worth it for our little darlings 🙂
For me, it’s the new level of exhaustion that I experienced after the kids arrived!
Nothing ever prepares you for what can actually happen!
My goodness that sounds like a nightmare trying to relax. But like you said you wouldn’t have it any other way. It did make me laugh when you said about fishing out the stray poo though!
I can relate to so many of these. Living in a house full of boys, I want to know how they miss the toilet…….everytime!!!!
Great post and quotes 🙂 It is completely different to how I imagined life would be but I love it!
I can relate with quite a few. Parenting is the hardest job ever.
Haha I can relate to quote a few. More worryingly I see my parenting life before me in some of those! Eek!
Wowee! So many great insights from other bloggers! Agree with some of these x
So funny and true! I never thought I would get up before everyone else just so I don’t have to wipe pee off the seat (life with a house full of boys!).
Parenting really is full of fun isn’t it! I miss the baby days now but at the time it was hard going. I was only saying to two new mums the other day that despite the lack of sleep those first few years really are the easiest.
I always am interested reading the real accounts about parenting and what they didn’t expect. Especially as everybody is different it makes me wonder what mine my be like in the late future 🙂
Oh wow, I have all of this loveliness to look forward to then lol but you still wouldn’t change it for the world
Oh yes. I think I can relate to most of these. Amazing how you do eventually forget the early years in detail. Parenting. Life changing. Definitely sent to try us. #MMBC
I almost peed myself to tears reading your’s and your lovely readers “I didn’t expect” said the parents. My girls are 27 & 22 and I remember all of these things. Reading some of the ” I didn’t expect’s” reminded me of some ” I didn’t expects” I had forgotton all about. Then I chuckled some more at my memories of my own “I didn’t expect’s.” I’m going to offer one here “I didn’t expect” the baby to be the boss for at least the whole first year.
Visiting today from MMBC (4/22/2024)
{{hugs}}