Parents - what do you miss most about being childless?

sassyblue

I miss peace and quiet
Not hearing 'mummy?' all day
Going to the loo or bathing on my own
No-one making demands, 'I want something to eat/drink, wipe my bum, look at this, come here, play with me more'
Bring able to get out the door when l choose and not having to ask him a dozen times to get his shoes or coat on.
Not cooking
Lazy days
Not having things messed about you can't have anything without them touching it.
A tidy house!

Having said that l would do it all again, good luck x

Gillyx

Going to the toilet without hearing 'poo poo or pee pee mummy?'

Having nights where I don't do dinner and just relax and munch posh crisps and wine, can't do that with a little person who wants fed.

Supermarket shops, where I can actually look at the food, rather than careering around Tesco with a screaming toddler in tow and then realising I've forgotten half of the stuff I went for by the time I get home.

That feeling of having something new and nice just for me, everything I have I spend on I him, but that's my choice

That feeling where you have done everything that needs done, I don't think I ever have that feeling anymore.

Most of all, silence in my own head, no one talking, no one clinging to my leg, sitting with a coffee, reading a book. What's a book again?

I have a good sleeper so I won't say more sleep.

All that being said, it's his smiley face I see first thing in the morning, and I can spend hours watching him sleep. He's my proudest achievement (if you can call it that) and he makes me smile every single day. He's my cure when I'm feeling down or sad or lonely and I thank God every day that I'm lucky enough to have him in my life.

bunty109

Silly, but I missed going to the cinema. Mine are older now and eldest can babysit and it's great knowing we go and see a film if we want to!

thorsoak

Evenings when I can watch whatever I want to watch on TV ....no-one to judge whatever I watch, and categorising me :-D

notanewuser

I have a 3 year old who loves sleep just about as much as I do, so apart from short periods of illness/teething/sleep regressions/wonder weeks I've had it easy from that perspective.

I do miss being able to just bu99er off somewhere for a long weekend (perk of working for an international hotel chain!).

penguin83

We had our older children when I was 18 and then 20. I didn't think it mattered that I hadn't really been out much, had never been abroad and generally hadn't done much as I could do all that when the children were older and I would still only be 30+. Then I turned 28 and my children were then 7 and 9 and I realised I missed the early morning starts, the nursery plays, the soft play places etc. I am now 30 which is the age I thought I would start to get 'me' back but instead I have an 8 month old asleep in the living room and I couldn't be happier.


I guess I didn't miss our pre pregnancy, baby and toddler days as much as I thought I would!


Good luck with TTC. Are you on the thread on here? I loved it and found it really helpful. It was amazing how much I didn't know about conceiving considering it was my third baby! xx

Lunar_Eclipse

As an outgoing extrovert, it's peace and quiet! Along with adult time.

Our daughters are 12 and 13, so physical challenges have been replaced with mental exhaustion which I find much harder. I loved the baby phase and the pre-school years. Those 7pm bedtimes where you then get adult time are long gone (and I really miss them!)

justme111

Spontaneity adult holidays and irresponsibility, instead of just doing things need to be arranged. Although its up to you anyway , I still have an option of not cooking and giving my daughter pasta hoops in tomato sauce. You will not be able to store any experiences from now into a future life , one can not lay down , sleep for 3 months on a trot and then be ready for 6 months without a sleep , human being wants everything in the right amount and resents things when there is too much / too little of anything .

GobbledyGook

I sometimes miss lazy Saturdays. Comfy joggers, a duvet/blanket on the couch and a day of tv/dvds, random food that doesn't constitute a meal, wine and just nothingness.

Being able to sit and have a few drinks after a meal somewhere rather than being constrained by bedtimes and/or the 'no children after x time' rules.

Right now I miss sleep. Ill boy for the past few days has meant his bodies concept of time is wrecked. He's wide awake whereas I'm shattered from being up to get his sisters to school.

roses

Sleep and socialising after work for me plus lack of savings. Nursery is expensive!!