Kids..all you need is love! (Being a Parent)

Member Name: supersonic75

Product:	Being a Parent
Date:	27/04/09 (145 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: make everything worthwhile

Disadvantages: none!

I always liked children and adored babies from an early age so I couldn't wait to start my own family.
I met my partner when he was 27 and I was a gym slip of a girl at 18 (cradle snatcher!). We lived together after a year and married five years after that; and straight away people assumed we would have a baby next.
Though we weren't kids ourselves we didn't feel ready to have children just then as we wanted a few 'alone' years where we could go on holiday or even a night out without it being a military operation and having to plan everything. When we decided to start trying I had just come off the pill when my husband came home from work with the news he had been made redundant. We talked a great deal about whether this was the right time to still have a baby and came to the conclusion that there was always going to be a reason not to start trying and we would never have any! Luckily hubby got a new job and I was still working.

After trying for six months I was getting a bit disheartened when nothing happened when one day I woke up and realized my monthly visitor hadn't arrived..after checking my dates it was about three days late which was very unusual for me! I went to work and told my best friend who said she would come with me to the chemists on the way home that day to buy a test. I honestly don't know how I got through that day at work and when I did get a test I took it straight home and did the business and the result was...well I couldn't tell! It was a blue cross one (where a line appears horizontally to say its worked and then if you are pregnant a line crosses over the other one diagonally forming a cross) however there was no line! I couldn't tell my husband as he worked on nights at the time so I phoned my friend and she said it was probably faulty and we would go again after work the following day.
Sure enough it was the longest day ever but I bought a different make this time from another chemist!
I was meeting my husband in a bar as it was a friday and as I got there before him I went straight to the toilets and did the test there then hid it in my bag without looking!
When I came out he was there so I sat down and told him maybe I was pregnant and whipped the test out of my bag and sure enough there was a pink spot saying it was positive..hooray!! Though hubby was pleased he went to the bar and got another drink!

Right that bit over with(sorry if I bored you!) here is some advice I found useful..

~~Trust your own instincts
Even if it's your first baby and people are all telling you different you will know if something isn't right so don't be afraid to speak up-whether it be to a GP or a health visitor- a mother knows their child better than anyone else.

~~Don't over buy
When I had my scan with my first son and was told everything was okay the first thing I did was go shopping! I bought loads of things that seemed so essential for a baby but got put in a cupboard and unfortunately forgot about till they were too big for them(clothes, toys etc)
It's okay to buy things but don't go overboard!

~~Tiredness awaits!
Prepare yourself for feeling extremely tired- that may sound patronizing and I don't mean it to- but I thought I would feel tired obviously with a new baby but I have never felt so shattered in my life as I did when I had my first baby! Accept any form of help from friends and relatives even if it is something like them them nipping to the shop or even hanging washing out for you- you will have wished you had after a few week! Don't expect not to argue or bicker with your partner either- it's very normal!

Spend time with them~~
Spend as much time with your children as you can- whether you work or not- they grow up so quickly so cram as much time with them as you can.

Tell them you love them~~
Children need hugs and kisses as it reassures them that they are loved- don't be cold towards them give them a cuddle for no apparent reason!

Help them with schoolwork~~
If your child needs help with school work sit down and offer advice and help and make up games to make learning fun. My little boy was great with his counting but struggled with his letters so we made up an alphabet game and he started taking more notice and is flourishing now.

Summery~~
I have a friend who is always saying I shouldn't do this or do that as she doesn't with her two- take no notice of friends who say things like that and bring up your children how you know best. As long as they are loved, fed well and looked after that's all they need!

Summary: wouldn't be without them even when they drive me potty!