We are now heading full steam toward back to school (Yee Har! Ooops, did I say that out loud?) and the thing that may dampen my enthusiasm just a little is the fact that I have another three years before my smallest person goes off into the wide world of education - even though he will be three this year. Due to his birthday missing the cut off for starting education in this part of Australia I will have his happy little face at home for another three years.
That is not to say that I don't love his happy little face, I do. More than life itself in fact. It is just that sometimes I catch myself flicking through Target catalogues thinking how nice it would be to go out and purchase some new work clothes and then actually have somewhere to wear them. Don't get me wrong, I love my yoga pants and shorts... but still.
Anyhoo all this has got me thinking about life BK (before kids) and of the world that opened up to me when I became a mum. I have a few friends who are thinking about becoming, are about to become, or have just become mums and I wanted to share my list of the 12 things I have learned since becoming a parent. Those of you who are already parents will know exactly what I am talking about.
12 Lessons I Have Learned Since Becoming a Parent.
1. You can never have enough bandaids, tissues, wipes and snacks. So always pack more than you think you will actually need... a lot more.
2. If you think you have more than enough activities to keep a toddler occupied on a plane - double it and some, or spend the rest of your trip trying to stop the game of up / down tray table and seat kick and just live with the hairy eyeball the person in the seat in front is giving you through the seat gap.
3. A toddler will always find the hole in the toddler proof environment - get down to their level and find out where it is before they do.
4. Things that are popular in March for kids over 5 will be lame by December - so shopping that far ahead for kids Christmas presents is a waste of time, no matter how much cheaper it is.
5. Selective deafness means kids don't hear you asking them to clean up their rooms (10 times) but does mean they will probably be listening into your private conversations.
6. Chances are they will bring that new found information up in front of the people you were actually talking about.
7.The same show can be watched over and over and over because it's their favourite and you just don't understand how much they love it.
8. That same show is now oh so ten minutes ago and you should never mention it again - without expecting to get that look.
9. Even if they are so full they could not fit in one more tiny little vegetable .... there is always room for dessert
10. Going on a holiday with kids hardly ever means you are actually going to have a break.
11. Even if you are just going out for a quick trip with a toddler you will probably be unprepared and it always pays to bring a snack and a drink
12. Going grocery shopping with a toddler is like organising a cross between a covert manoeuvre and a cruise. You have to have enough activities to keep the troops entertained or they will go rouge and you can't tell them about it before you get there or they will over excite themselves.
This is by no means the complete lessons - those little devils teach me new things every day! I would love to hear some of the lessons you have learned since becoming a parent so don't forget to share them in the comments section below.
Cheers,
Lee
PS. If you haven't already filled out the survey to win the awesome Personal Planner prize which is being drawn next week - the link is here.
That is not to say that I don't love his happy little face, I do. More than life itself in fact. It is just that sometimes I catch myself flicking through Target catalogues thinking how nice it would be to go out and purchase some new work clothes and then actually have somewhere to wear them. Don't get me wrong, I love my yoga pants and shorts... but still.
Anyhoo all this has got me thinking about life BK (before kids) and of the world that opened up to me when I became a mum. I have a few friends who are thinking about becoming, are about to become, or have just become mums and I wanted to share my list of the 12 things I have learned since becoming a parent. Those of you who are already parents will know exactly what I am talking about.
12 Lessons I Have Learned Since Becoming a Parent.
1. You can never have enough bandaids, tissues, wipes and snacks. So always pack more than you think you will actually need... a lot more.
2. If you think you have more than enough activities to keep a toddler occupied on a plane - double it and some, or spend the rest of your trip trying to stop the game of up / down tray table and seat kick and just live with the hairy eyeball the person in the seat in front is giving you through the seat gap.
3. A toddler will always find the hole in the toddler proof environment - get down to their level and find out where it is before they do.
4. Things that are popular in March for kids over 5 will be lame by December - so shopping that far ahead for kids Christmas presents is a waste of time, no matter how much cheaper it is.
5. Selective deafness means kids don't hear you asking them to clean up their rooms (10 times) but does mean they will probably be listening into your private conversations.
6. Chances are they will bring that new found information up in front of the people you were actually talking about.
7.The same show can be watched over and over and over because it's their favourite and you just don't understand how much they love it.
8. That same show is now oh so ten minutes ago and you should never mention it again - without expecting to get that look.
9. Even if they are so full they could not fit in one more tiny little vegetable .... there is always room for dessert
10. Going on a holiday with kids hardly ever means you are actually going to have a break.
11. Even if you are just going out for a quick trip with a toddler you will probably be unprepared and it always pays to bring a snack and a drink
12. Going grocery shopping with a toddler is like organising a cross between a covert manoeuvre and a cruise. You have to have enough activities to keep the troops entertained or they will go rouge and you can't tell them about it before you get there or they will over excite themselves.
This is by no means the complete lessons - those little devils teach me new things every day! I would love to hear some of the lessons you have learned since becoming a parent so don't forget to share them in the comments section below.
Cheers,
Lee
PS. If you haven't already filled out the survey to win the awesome Personal Planner prize which is being drawn next week - the link is here.
RSS Feed
