Lots changes once you become a parent, even if it takes some reflection to realise what. Today I’ve stayed in all day; although I felt like going for a walk with the pram, the grey skies, fog and cold weren’t particularly encouraging me to go outside. As such, we’ve spent the day indoors, providing the opportunity to do some household chores. It was as I put my sleeping baby down for a nap on the sofa that I thought “Yes! I can do some washing now!” and then I pondered “Wait, when did I get excited about doing laundry?”
Then I wondered “What else has changed since I became a Mum?” How many of these are true for you, too?
1. Having a wee!
Yes, I know it sounds silly! When I’m half way through feeding the baby and suddenly feel like I need a wee, I know that if I stop feeding her she’ll get upset and start screaming. As such, I wait until after I’m done feeding her – which can take quite a while sometimes. She’s at that age now where she looks around at everything and keeps getting distracted. However, she gets annoyed when her distraction ends and she suddenly realises the bottle is no longer in her mouth! She’s had some reflux issues and we usually stop several times for burps. All in all, it can be up to half an hour by the time I’ve finished feeding her – I used to take being able to go to the loo freely completely for granted!
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2. Sleep
Looking after a baby is tiring! As well as taking care of Autumn, I have other hobbies and household tasks that I do on a daily basis. So far, we’ve been extremely lucky as she does sleep through the night (I hope I haven’t jinxed it now). I still appreciate my sleep more than I used to though, as I feel like I need it more. Of course, I never know when my luck might run out and she’ll stop sleeping so well! I also remember those early weeks when she barely slept at all. I’d be breastfeeding almost all night as she was cluster feeding – when I think back, I really realise how good I’ve got it.
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3. Getting excited about laundry!
As I mentioned before, doing laundry is quite exciting now! With a baby, it always seems like there are always a million things that need to be washed. Vests that get pooped on, tops that get puked on…and that’s just my husband! (Just kidding!) But seriously, the amount of clothes and muslin cloths babies get through is unreal, as well as trying to keep on top of your own laundry. Pretty much whenever she decides to sleep, I’m so pleased that I can get another washing machine load done!
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4. Shopping
Now, hear me out on this one. While I’m not always your typical woman in many ways, I do enjoy shopping for clothes, jewellery and makeup. However, when you’re shopping for a baby it’s just so much better somehow – like, I don’t even care that much if I really have any new clothes myself over the next few years as long as my little girl looks well dressed and super cute. There are so many lovely clothes for babies out there and the best (and worst!) thing is that you get to buy a whole new wardrobe for them every 3 months as they grow so fast!
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5. Hygiene
Before I had a baby, I used to bath or shower every day religiously. Sometimes twice. I’ve now got much better at managing time and sussing out what Autumn needs when, but in those first few weeks I was sometimes lucky if I got a shower in before my husband came home (or at all, some days!) My hair washes went down from every other day to weekly (thank goodness for dry shampoo!) I’ve learned the art of quick showering now and am back to my previous hair washing routine and hygiene levels, I’m sure you’ll be pleased to know!
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6. My body
While I fitted back into my pre-pregnancy size 6 jeans (size 2 if you’re in the US) within a couple of weeks of giving birth (yes, I know, everyone hates me!) my body has definitely changed. Although my husband still likes my figure, I feel that my waist and chest are thicker than they used to be. My boobs have changed shape and I have stretch marks. However, I now have more respect for my body and appreciate it much more than I ever used to. It has carried, birthed and fed a child – and that is amazing! The changes in my body tell my story and where Autumn’s story begun.
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7. Pain perception
I think this one is fairly self explanatory. Once you have gone through labour, any pain you feel on a scale of 0-10, 10 now being labour, is generally going to be a lot lesser on your pain scale than it would have been previously. What was previously my highest level of pain (being stung by a weaver fish, which is apparently 100 times more painful than a wasp sting) has now dropped to a 7!
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8. Getting out of the house
I’ve always thought it’s annoying how for the majority of women, it takes so much longer to get out of the house than men. Hair washing and styling generally takes longer. Outfits take longer consideration and then there’s make up. Our averages before I had Autumn were probably about 25 minutes to get ready for my husband and 2 hours for me! Now, I wear less or no makeup. When I leave the house after getting ready and going through the cycle of nappies and bottles, changing the inevitable just-before-leaving-the-house poop or puke and wrestling Autumn into her coat it now feels like a huge achievement, makeup on or not.
9. Priorities have changed
The baby comes first whatever is going on. Phone calls, showers, blogging…any activity I may be doing gets ditched when she starts crying and I run to her. Sometimes I miss just being able to do what I want to do when I want to do it, but what I have now is so much better! You can’t really be a control freak when you have a baby as you can’t control or plan when they’re going to start crying for milk or a nappy change. Oh, and just as soon as you think you have them sussed, they change!
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10. Having a hot meal
- My husband and I generally have a hot meal on alternate nights. One of us looks after Autumn and the other has the luxury of a hot meal. Tonight I don’t have that luxury as Dave has gone out to a Chinese restaurant with work. Therefore, I had to look after her as I looked longingly over to my pizza. Then I decided I needed to eat, so had to eat a cold pizza to the beautiful sound of my child screaming next to me. Last week was my father-in-law’s birthday and we had a Chinese takeaway. Autumn slept through dinner and I cannot tell you just how wonderful it felt to eat a yummy hot meal with my husband and his family without disruption!
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11. I’m more appreciative
I know it sounds cheesy, but I just feel so much more appreciative of life and of all the parents in my family before me. I appreciate how tiny and delicate, yet so strong babies. I’m so appreciative of how strong we are as women to carry them and give birth to them too. I appreciate the miracle of life more. My Mum has done so for me and I appreciate her much more too now. This parenting lark isn’t easy! I appreciate my husband more too since he’s become a father.
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12. Little things make me smile more
The smile Autumn gives me when I say good morning to her and kiss her little head, the way she looks at me like I’m the most beautiful and amazing person in the world. I also love the way she holds my finger as I feed her her bottle of milk. She’s changing so fast all the time and I’m so appreciative of every moment with her. I got so teary eyed putting away her newborn and 0-3 month clothes.
As I reminded myself, she is still small. She still needs her Mummy and will do for years to come! Last night, we achieved a new milestone – she rolled over the first time. I smiled so much and got so teary eyed, I was just so proud. The pre-Autumn me would probably have been in disbelief over just how excited I got. The first thing I did was take a picture of her with her milestone card, post it to my Facebook page and message all our closest family and relatives!
So, what has made you feel really proud of your child, perhaps bizarrely so? And what things have you noticed have changed since you’ve become a parent (good or bad?)
What a lovely post. And so true…all of it. The fun doesn’t stop either as they grow and develop into mini adults!
I remember saying to myself ” crikey I can’t wait for my girls to grow up so I can have me time back”…….
Hmm. When it eventually happens…you feel redundant. Cherish every moment of the baby and preschool yrs….the primary yrs because as soon as secondary time comes….bang…they become independent. Although I still care for Abbie more than a parent would with a 14 yrs old….it still feels scary when I see how much they grow….the first period…boyfriend and sex talk lol. But it’s the best job in the world. Love your blogging Laura. What wonderful memories you will be able to read back on xxxx
She’s already growing and changing so fast; everyone says how fast they grow so I’m really just trying to absorb it all! I can’t even imagine her as a mini adult, she’s still so small, but I’m sure it won’t feel like it takes that long to get there. Thanks, I’m glad you’re enjoying it and as you say it’ll be great to look back on 🙂 xxxx
Love this post as we often think about how we change and not what we’ve decided to change! Enjoying the little things def helps #fortheloveofBLOG
Thank you for commenting – yes, it was only with reflection that I started to realise just how much I’ve decided to change since my daughter was born!
Wow. So much to look forward to. Thanks for a positive post. I’ve read too many sad and negative ones recently.
#marvmondays
Thanks for your comment 🙂 It’s difficult sometimes, but I really do love being a Mum!
Such a great post and I loved your final point, so true. Hate to tell you but you won’t get to wee in peace for another 6 years at least 💙 Thank you for linking up to #ablogginggoodtime 🎉
Haha, that’s very true – and it’ll only get worse once she learns to say “Mum” a hundred times in a minute 🙂 Thank you for reading! 🙂
When I see the bottom of my laundry basket I get SOOO excited!! Its pee my pants time if the ironings all done too!! I’m wayyyyy more emotional since having children, I sit and cry at game shows, advert and don’t get me started on the soaps!! Great post.
#ablogginggoodtime
Thanks for visiting 🙂 I get so excited too, it’s crazy haha! 🙂 Aww bless you!! hehe
Yep! Those tiny little humans sure know how to change our lives! But really, we’d never go back!
Yes, it completely turns life upside down – but I wouldn’t have it any other way! Thanks for commenting 🙂
Its funny what you miss or realise you miss once you become a parent! I can totally relate to so many of these, like getting out of the house which takes forever, especially when you have two little ones. There are definitely times when I wish I could do some of the things that I used to take for granted, but overall I wouldnt change it for the world! Great post, thanks for sharing it on #MarvMondays. Emily
Thanks for visiting Emily 🙂 Yes, I always took for granted ‘a quick visit to the shops’ – now it’s a military operation! I still wouldn’t change it though 🙂
Oh my goodness I still miss having a wee in peace. Even now it’s not possible because my two either start to have a disagreement (over Paw Patrol normally) or they follow me into the bathroom! What makes me proud? That might two have a lovely sibling relationship xx #FridayFrolics
Aww, that’s lovely 🙂 I only have one child myself, but I’d like to hope if we have another they’d have a nice relationship. Knowing my luck they’ll despise each other like my brother and I did (we’re fine with each other now we’re grown up!)
It’s good to know I can’t expect to wee in peace for yeeeeaaarrs! I’m already looking forward to it though 🙂 xx
Haha! Every single one of these are so me… except I haven’t managed to get back to my old shower routine. I’m permanently stuck on festival cleanliness setting. (NICE!)
I get so emotional every time Baby manages something new when before Baby I wasn’t very emotional at all. She’s determine not to rollover (I think she could if she wanted but just can’t be bothered) but she has started self soothing to sleep some nights. The second time she did I nearly burst into tears because my baby didn’t need me anymore. The next three nights she decided to scream at me for an hour and insist on being cuddled before going to sleep so I think she’ll need me a while longer.
Aww, bless you! 🙂 Hehe, it often seems to go in strange cycles like that – I bet you were probably wishing for her to self soothe again then? 😉
I’m sure in a couple of months I’ll be back to festival cleanliness setting once Autumn gets moving a bit more! At the moment, I pop her on her playmat and keep poking my head in and out of the shower curtain but there will be none of that soon! 🙁
Size six jeans!!!!! Argh so jealous. Eight months down the line and I’m finally back in my size 10s. I’ve been living in leggings the whole time!! I actually weigh less than pre preg but my body has changed shape so couldn’t fit in them 😂😂
So much has changed for me! Priorities have certainly shifted.
#SundayBest
Sorry 😂 Oddly I weigh less than before pregnancy too, my body is very much a different shape as well though! Leggings are great anyway, much comfier than jeans!
You know things will change, but I don’t think you can even begin to prepare for how much 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
I love this! Things certainly do change don’t they when they arrive! What’s this sleep thing you mention? haha! x #SundayBest
Haha 😀 It’s amazing how little sleep you can function on (even if you do find the cereal box in the fridge more times than you’d care to mention)! Thanks for commenting 🙂 x
The first time I had to put away Peachy’s outgrown clothes I got so horribly depressed. Ever since then I refuse to do it on my own. I pull stuff out of her closet and I make my husband fold them and put them in the storage bin. #SundayBest
That’s a good idea – I might take a leaf out of your book in the future! Thank yoh for your comment xx
Ahh I can relate to so many of these! Especially the hair washing! Thank you for linking up to #sundaybest x
Yes!! This is exactly it! it’s all down to priorities isn’t it and how far they shift!!! #postsfromtheheart
daydreams of a mum recently posted…The one where…. My child ruins Friends for me
Haha! This was great! I refer to a Poo in Peace as PIP in this house. That’s all I want!
#PostsFromTheHeart
I loved this post. I am so glad motherhood made you more appreciative and enjoy the little things more. #PostsFromTheHeart
Astrid recently posted…I’m Officially Home!: The Road to My Discharge from the Mental Institution
oh yes to all of these! I had the chance of a child free, hubby free night on wednesday night and was going to bask in the glory until baby wouldnt settle and returned home dammit! #PostsFromTheHeart
Mrs Mummy Harris recently posted…Ben’s Week of Wonders – Family, Sickness and Duck’s Galore!
I do not, and will never, get excited about laundry! If we ever see the bottom of our dirty laundry basket again it will be a miracle! #postsfromtheheart
Crummy Mummy recently posted…‘I waited on the examination table for five hours’
It sounds like you’ll find all sorts of surprises in there if you ever do get to the bottom! #postsfromtheheart
It sounds like you might find things you’d forgotten you ever had if you ever do get to the bottom of it!
All so very true, I have never actually stopped to think about all the things that have changed for the better I just dwell on the things I miss. #PostsFromTheHeart
There are lots of things to miss, but so many good things too! 🙂