Things you should do before you have children

mum2one

torbrex wrote: »

Have your 'blow-out' holiday

Whether it is the pyramids in Egypt, the Grand Canyon, the canals of Venice, the Great Wall in China or a barge on the Norfolk Broads just get out there and do it while you can.

I have no drains on my resources so I am still enjoying my holidays :T

I would definatly agree with the blow out holiday.

Its simple things as well going to the loo, remembering you do have a name bar mummy, mum, watching a film. But I wouldn't swop my daughter for the world, (just the sperm donor of her father) x

neverdespairgirl

jollymummy wrote: »

I'd also go on public transport a bit, once I had my son, we couldn't as he either needed a wee or wanted to know at the top of his voice - WHY IS THAT MAN SO FAT MUMMY ???

My best mate had that last year with her two year old on a train - "IS THAT A MAN OR A WOMAN, MUMMY? I CAN'T TELL"

As best mate couldn't either, she changed the subject sharpish (-:

ilovelondontown

WOW! I didn't expect to get so many great responses! Thank you so much for taking the time to respond, I take each one to heart. - Even the comment about getting sterilised- I admit reading all these makes me a little scared!

The idea of enjoying your sleep and being able to go out at the drop of a hat are things I'd considered but some of these suggestions I hadn't even thought of- the state of your house for example, our house is very "adult" and I'm sure from a child's perspective is boring, but I hadn't really appreciated the luxury of not having to child proof anything.

Taking a bath/having sex/doing pretty much anything uninterrupted is another thing I think I take for granted... must revel in this "luxury" a bit more....

I actually posted on another thread about whether or not I should go on holiday while we're sorting out our finances, but this post has confirmed that we should definately get away this year, while we definately have a chance to do it just the 2 of us.

This has also made me feel like husband and I should start "dating" a bit more to enjoy the other perks of being just us.

Keep 'em coming!

meritaten

oh and forget sex or at least spontaneous sex for the next ten years after having a baby - they have radar! the only time you will have together for sex is when your kids have a sleepover.

jakes-mum

Cuddle with your hubby! Youngest is 5 and still feels she has to be in the centre of every cuddle that happens in this house and involves me ( I'm her property it seems :rotfl: ds belongs to daddy )

Enjoy having money in your purse, once kids turn up they always need new shoes, clothes etc etc, just spent my last £7 on socks for ds as he's managed to put holes in every single pair he owns :eek:

Definitely the solo toilet and shower times! Both mine always have desperate things they have to tell me at either time, actually I haven't had a shower alone in 12 years thinking about it . . .

Enjoy your beautifully decorated walls, there's a good chance one of your treasures will add their own art work at some point.

And savour uninterrupted sleep, with nightmares, needing the loo, feeling ill, you will have the odd bad night for many years.

But as others have said, I've loved every minute

neverdespairgirl

meritaten wrote: »

oh and forget sex or at least spontaneous sex for the next ten years after having a baby - they have radar! the only time you will have together for sex is when your kids have a sleepover.

OH and I manage (-:

Treevo

Enjoy having cream carpets and lovely oak flooring without 90 miles of crayon spread over them. Enjoy being able to say that poo holds no interest to you because once the nappies start you'll be staring at the colours like Gillian McKeith on acid. Enjoy being horrified by the thought of a tiny person excreting, vomiting, weeping etc all over you because after the second time, it won't even phase you. Enjoy your insomnia because it'll be cured within a week of them coming home. Enjoy being able to have an adult conversation without your brain turning to mush half way through. And also enjoy not making a fool of yourself when you forget that you're talking to actual adults and so you don't need to announce that you're going for a wee wee.

Everything else you can do. As long as you don't mind leaving them with suitable child minders.

sillygoose

Judi wrote: »

Have sex

in the kitchen
in the living room
on the stairs
in the bath

oh God yes... DD was conceived on the lounge floor (DS was just a babe in his cot)...

Since kids - I had to learn carpentry to chisel out the bedroom door handle and fit a locking handle otherwise not a chance of nooky.... ever.

SkipE

Agree with blow out holiday. We had a wonderful time in New York and after I had seen the things I wanted to I was ready to have a baby.

Enjoy walking round the house and not stepping on toys, lego and food scraps.

Being able to go out spontaneously without the need to take half the house with you ie nappies, change of clothes, food, snacks, toys etc. I hate having to carry such a big bag around now.

Your body. It will never be the same again.

Get drunk. You cant have a hangover with a baby.

Enjoy staying up late and getting up late. We have to go to bed earlier now so that we are better rested for the night time wake ups.

Enjoy buying clothes for yourself. Once baby is here you will only see gorgeous things for them and wont buy for yourself for a while!

Its all worth it though.I look at my DS now and think how did I get so lucky?

Richard53

On a serious note, you talk about getting all your ducks lined up. You can't. If you are going to wait until you think you can finally afford kids, you won't have any. Sometimes you just have to go for it and hope things will fall into line later.

Ex and I waited for years as we thought we couldn't afford children, despite earning two good salaries. We were 30 before someone gave me the advice above and we went for it. Our income was halved and our expenditure doubled (seemingly), but we managed.

As to the original question: I can't improve on the advice to have sex. Lots of it. Spontaneous, noisy, adventurous, carefree sex. Your next opportunity will be in 20 years

Only kidding. Well, half-kidding.