In the days Before Son (BS) I was carefree, drank too much, swore too much, drove too fast, went to bed too late and thought junk food whenever I wanted it was OK. Pregnancy and motherhood changed all that. 

These are some of the things I have noticed:

Selfishness
I no longer want to blow out the candles on MY birthday cake. The joy on his face is a much better birthday gift than the wish I would make blowing out too many candles.

I no longer want to eagerly unwrap my presents. In fact I no longer even want presents. Just get something for my offspring. I don’t need anything. In fact I never feel the need for any material things now.

I always put my child 1st and last. Of course this is not necessarily a good thing. Ask Hubby, or ask anyone who says I need a break.

Mellow but angst
Nothing phases me, but I worry about everything. I don’t want to pass on my fears. So horses, plants, spiders (in fact any creepy crawly) have to be talked to and dare I even say it – despite my heart rate reaching critical – touched!  I become a swan or a duck swimming about looking all serene, but paddling wildly underneath the surface. Am I winning this battle?  Time will tell!

Sleep
When he is not here I sleep so well. When he is here, a pin could drop and I can hear it, let alone the cries from his room of “Mummy, come quick, Teddy’s done a poo!”

Squeamishness is no more.
Sick, poo, blood. None of it even phases me, as long as it is his and not someone elses! Super Mummy comes out and deals with the situation and thinks about it later. Becoming a nurse would be another matter entirely. Then it would be entirely different blood and vomit and poo, and much more gross.

Mummy brain takes over.
When he is not here I absentmindedly watch CBeebies, or scan though photos of him on my PC, or talk incessantly about him (without even realising it) yet when he is attached to my leg Shouting “My Mummy My Mummy” I wish he was always the gold-as-gold angel I have in my head.

Priorities change
That parachute jump that I always wanted to do, just doesn’t seem important anymore. I don’t take risks. Someone is depending on me for everything. I can’t be late for school pick up. I can’t drive too fast. A nice safe car is so much better than something that looks good and drives fast. A trip to Pontins seems attractive, because he would enjoy it. It doesn’t matter that in a previous lifetime I would hate every moment. Now his joy is my joy.

Things my parents said to me that I vowed I would never say to my child
Because I said so!
Because I am older!
Because I am your Mum!
You can’t always have what you want!
Eat your dinner, or you get no pudding!
I’ll tell your Dad!

Yes I have said them all. I never thought I would.

This quote seems to sum it all up perfectly, I don’t know who’s it is but it is beautiful and so true:

“A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.”

In what ways has being a parent changed you?