The things we give up.

Privacy is the biggest thing you give up once you become a mother. Independance is another thing, once you have children it seems you cannot do anything by yourself. Once the kids start getting to their pre teens or teenage years they tend to know it all. LOL and it seems mom and dad do not know a thing. All of a suddend it felt like I could not do anything without one of the kids correcting me for something. LOL I did reassure them I was an adult and I could do it. Guess what I survived and I have continued to survie since they have left home.

where do you start, but i suppose this is something that you chose when you decide to have kids, but at the time you don't realise just how much you give up. Your sleep, lie-ins , just being able to have a conversation with someone without being interupted by i need a wee, or so and so hitting me. just getting in the car and going rather than go an hour later than you wanted cause took you so long to get everyone ready.Being able to think straight, sometimes it takes me so long to remember what i wanted to say i've forgotten again. Saying all this i don't think i would have it any other way!!!!

When my kids were small, the one thing that was hard to get used to was not being able to get up and go somewhere unencumbered with all of them. I missed the freedom of getting out whenever I had the urge. With all the kids, getting out of the house was a project I had to plan for, getting everyone dressed and ready, and making sure they all went to the bathroom and had something to eat before we left. Now that they're all grown, I miss those times, and I smile when I think about them.

Wow, I really never thought about it in list form. As I am sure that my fingers would go numb if I tried typing it all out. lol I would say though that the thing I notice that I have given up and miss the most is this: the ability to get up and go to the store whenever I want, at whatever time, without having to plan it out and getting the kids ready and such. Doing that now is a whole process that takes planning and about an hour to get them ready to go. Before, if I decided to go to the store I was up and out in 5 minutes flat and just took off without a second thought.....Oh I miss those times.

Oh I love it. I have given up washing my hair everyday (and lets admit it, sometimes I don't even get to a shower everyday). I've given up shaving everyday and now just do it when it's long enough to cut off and donate to charity. Watching tv before bed time. Wearing my hair down because now it gets pulled out. The biggest thing I took for granted was getting up and going somewhere. Now you have to pack the diaper bag, get the baby dressed and loaded up in the car seat. It's such a hassle to go anywhere.

I have to lose a lot. Now besides going out to work, I seldom go out. After work, I just go home immediately. I also sacrifice my time to take care of a child and also do some housework. I can't eat a meal without pause. Because sometimes I have to feed him. I don't have my time for my own interests.

For all I have given up- I have gained so much more! A best friend- my own child- hours of laughter and fun- I've given up the right to be bored- I'm not bored anymore- we always find something to do. I've given up trying to not eat ice cream- its a necessity with a child!

And later when they are teens, you stay up to make sure they get home ok. Or you wait up because they are late or snuck out. My older daughter when she was 16 took my car for a ride one night thinking I would not notice. Notice? I found the seat in a different position, less gas, and a different radio station on. When I asked her if she took the car she said "No". Just you wait...