I know, I know. A baby is the best thing that will ever happen to you. The little part of you you didnβt know was missing. But sometimes, just sometimes, I miss the days before I became a mum, when I came home from work and dozed on my bed, and slept until I woke up at the weekend.
This week I was reminded of those days when Misery Guts and I left the children with their grandparents and escaped toΒ Foxhills Hotel and Spa for two nights (check out my Instagram to see how fab it is!)
There’s no getting away from it – being sans kids was absolute bliss, and I couldnβt help but start a list of things I miss about beingΒ just meΒ (spa breaks are dangerous – last time I came away with a list of things they don’t tell you about being a parent).
In no particular order:
1. Waking up without needing to jump out of bed immediately and deal with anything between one and 10 tasks before your first cup of tea.
2. Feeling like you’ve had too much sleep. I could slap anyone who says that now.
3. Dozing. In bed in the morning, on the sofa after work: thereβs a lot to be said for a good doze.
4. Wondering what to do next. The chance would be a fine thing!
5. Getting a numb bum from being sat down for too long.
6. Having a bath without someone coming in to use the loo, or worrying about the child you can neither see or hear.
7. Painting my nails with two coats of colour and a gloss without having to warn Misery Guts in advance.
8. Bras without industrial-size plastic drop-down clips.
9. Buying clothes because I like them, not because I can easily whip my boobs out.
10. Leaving straighteners to heat up on the bedroom floor without fear of a visit from social services.
Would I change things? Of course not. Well, maybe the bit about feeling like I’ve had too much sleep. And dozing.
Do you ever miss the days before you became a parent? What do you miss the most?
Linking up with…
So very true! I miss being able to nip out for something essential, like chocolate, without having to pack a suitcase, spend half an hour putting coats and shoes on and fretting about what sort of mood the toddler is in and if it’s worth shepherding them around whilst they scream blue murder.
I totally agree. As much as I love my kids I do have times when I say “imagine how good things could be without kids”. Imagine the luxury holidays, lazy Sunday mornings in bed, getting though a day without a million stupidly annoying questions. As much as I love them, they are little idiots! #effitfriday
My particular favs are 4, 6 and 7. You are right I wouldn’t change things for the world but a little break at times is wonderful and I can also add, it does get easier then they get older (sorry – yuk!)
I know exactly how you feel. Having to warn everyone 100 times and asking 100 times if they need the toilet before you go for a bath. Only to be interrupted just as you have sat down in it because someone needs to pee and can’t hold it!!
L X
http://workingmumy.blogspot.com
#TheList
I miss sleep and waking up naturally. I miss Sunday afternoon with pick n mix and a film. Maybe one day X #TheList
I miss being on my own. I literally never get that alone time apart from when kids are asleep. But still. I miss spontaneity. Everything has to be planned in advance. Ugh lol i too miss going to the toilet and being to able to brush my teeth properly. Wow the list goes on!
Amina xx | AliandHer.com
Oh yes yes to all of these! And I miss being able to listen to music I love when I’m cooking dinner – like really listen to it. Instead of bloody Justin and his stupid house etc x x
Oh gosh yes all of those. And probably lots more but I’m far too exhausted and sleep deprived to think of any of my own. Oh how I miss lay-ins.
#effitfridays
I love this and I’m pleased it’s not just me!!
I visited Morrisons to do the food shop alone this week – it was a real highlight for me
Completely agree with you especially on the sleep points. You’ve reminded me that I need to paint my nails which I’ve just done. Sometimes I miss me. Claire X #PickNMix
Ooh I miss the dozing too!I think I miss how easy life before kids was and I never appreciated it!Just leaving the house easily, getting through the day without someone screaming at me, being able to just do what I want when i fancied doing it. I love my boy and am so glad I have him but sometimes a child free weekend would be amazing. I’m jealous of your spa day!xx #picknmix
Being able to use the bathroom at a sensible and leisurely pace is the thing I miss.
#effitfriday
Being able to use the bathroom at a sensible and leisurely pace and ALONE is the thing I miss.
#effitfriday
I miss being able to eat meals without small people stealing half of it. And gardening, and listening to music that isn’t the frozen soundtrack. And swearing loudly. Plus all of the things you mentioned… #KCACOLS
I miss all those things too. It’s a big adjustment and sometimes I feel I haven’t adjusted well to it all. Worth it like you said, for our little blessings, but some things we give up is so unfair. I especially miss waking up and just laying there x #kcacols
Definitely sleep. And getting to go out for a drink after work without having to ask permission a month in advance. And reading. #KCACOLS
I am crying. #8 oh #8 – except now beside the ugly plastic clip I have a massive hole next to the ugly plastic clip. Oh so attractive. Bad thing is I don’t care and my husband hates it! #KCACOLS
Times like this are so special becuase they are not everyday. I hope you can repeat your lovely expereince #KCACOLS
just too funny – love a good doze! Oh and to wonder about what to do next! Ooh and the nails – too funny – “ain’t got time for all that!” All that time will reappear soon, I promise #KCACOLS
I miss me time for sure – being able to decide that I want to lay in bed with a book or take a day trip on a whim. There is no room to be spontaneous with a baby! #KCACOLS
I have been with kids so long I don’t really remember not having them. However, mine are old enough to leave home and jot down to the store for a few minutes and they will not kill each other or burn the house down. Babies grow so fast, it won’t be long before you have a bit more freedom! #kcacols
My kids are a bit older and more independent now, so occasionally we get to sleep in a bit (it still never feels like enough!). I miss being able to be impulsive, just deciding to do something and going without having to think about all the child necessities you have to take.
#KCACOLS
This is so true. Now the Tubblet is older, we do get time to ourselves and lie-ins occasionally but i still miss nights out and disposable income!
After being up most of the night with what appears to be an extremely hungry 7 week old, this list has made me feel very nostalgic. Especially the bit about sleep and dozing, ah one can dream! Great post π
#KCACOLS
I don’t even bother putting straighteners on any more! or nail polish. it’s all been relegated to the craft box. sigh #KCACOLS
Oh yes! I completely agree! Particularly 8 and 9!! Glad you had some time to yourselves! π #KCACOLS
Thank you it was marvellous to get away, even for just a couple of nights…
Dozing, I can just about remember what this is, but yes! I miss dozing so much!! Sunday morning lie-ins, amazing!! #KCACOLS
We’ll get them again one day, I KNOW we will. That’s what I tell myself anyway!!
Love this! Let’s see, not being able to just to run t the store whenever I want with no preplanning. Drinking a second cup of coffee (and both hot) before I do anything on my day off, making the dinner I am in the mood for! #KCACOLS
Sometimes it gets to the evening and I realise I haven’t even had one cup of tea hot. I used to not be able to function with at least two in a row before getting up!!
Ahhh totally! The only time I get anytime away is when I go to the hairdresser – I am literally always ‘mum’ morning and night. My husband doesn’t get it, the fact that his journey into work alone is more free time than I get in a week. I keep thinking I’ll blog about it and get it out of my system when I get frustrated …. And then I think about people who desperately want kids and can’t who would give anything to be me, and I am never quite work out how to have a good old moan without seeming ungrateful. I think you’ve managed to get the balance right here! #KCACOLS
Have a good old moan! You can always caveat it with knowing you’re lucky too! It sounds like an #effitfriday rant over on https://www.lifewithbabykicks.com/ – we won’t judge you!!
Hi Natalie, I did miss the BC days, but now they are older I feel I have ‘me’ back and I’m no longer just Mum, I’m Debs too. I’m also glad that now I’ve got ‘me’ back, not much has changed apart from a few more wrinkles and a pair of boobs that resemble spaniel ears (tiny spaniel ears, I might add, but they fed two children).
You will find you again. Maybe not tomorrow, but one day you’ll resurface again.
xx
I know I’m in there somewhere…a mini break every now and again should keep me going!!
Being able to choose what I want to eat on a menu because I like it, rather than if the kids will eat it if they dont like theirs. Actually, going into a restaurant at all would be a start.
Yes that’s very true! Although I purposely order things they don’t like for me so I don’t have to share!!
oops forgot my #kcacols
Thanks so much for popping by!x
Great post:) I probably miss a daytime glass of wine and then dozing on the sofa, waking up and raiding the fridge….its been years and years since I did that!:)
Mainy x
#KCACOLS
It’s been years since I’ve done that too! Oh how I miss those days!!
I know what you mean. I obviously love my boy very much and wouldn’t go back but I do day dream sometimes of what it would have been like if my husband and I had chosen to be married for a while before starting a family. We were only 9 months in when we got pregnant. And oh I miss the naps after work and lazy Saturday mornings. Thanks for sharing. #KCACOLS
I found out I was expecting BB three months after we got married, so I know what you mean!
Oh yes I can totally relate to this post, and the number one thing I miss is sleep!! I would have to say that sleep trumps all the other little things I miss. And it is one thing I really can’t do without. I can certainly see why it is used as a form of torture lol.xx #KCACOLS
I was always an eight hours a night person until I became a mum – now I’m lucky if it’s five or six, and that’s never uninterrupted either…
Ohhhh yeah! I can’t remember the last time I had a long soak in the bath, having a shower is like a military operation “have I closed the stair gate? Are all the doors to the bedrooms closed? Is my child upstairs?” sometimes it’s the simple things you miss! x #KCACOLS
My mind conjures up all sorts of awfulness when I’m in the bath and they’re running wild!
Ah this brings back memories. I’d love to wake up gradually, and not to the usual air raid siren. Thanks for linking up to #TheList x
Waking up gradually? What’s that??!!
Yes! I really miss just being able to go to the shops easily or do exactly what I want for the day including sleep! Thanks for linking to #PicknMix
Sometimes I wonder what on earth I did with my time when I was in my 20s!!
This is so true – I feel like this too sometimes! Ahh to have a lie in and not be woken up by screaming π Funnily enough Foxhills Spa is round the corner from where I grew up, such a lovely place for a little break xx #KCACOLS
We lived in Chertsey for a long time which is how we come to know about Foxhills and why we retreat there when it all gets a bit much!!
I think I will definitely miss the dozing the most when the baby is born. I don’t need as many naps as I used to but I still struggle with my energy levels. #kcacols
Make the most of all the sleep you can get now – that’s my advice!
Ahh dozing, I’d almost forgotten that was even a thing! I miss all of this. And being able to do spontaneous things with out an action plan and having to take big bags of all the stuff! I really don’t miss having to dress round easy boob access now my bf days are over though! #KCACOLS
I won’t miss easy access boob clothes either!
Ah to wake up naturally and not have to jump up make milk and juice and breakfast and let the dog out and and and… I would also like to use my straighteners without fear of small fingers getting hold of them but for now I guess I am stuck with frizzy hair and a list of constant demands! #kcacols
It will be marvellous when they’re teenagers and stay in bed all morning – I plan to do the same!
aww I feel for you.. I used to miss those things too, but… they do come back though, It won’t be long, and then you’ll start to miss different things, like.. your makeup and hair straighteners lol #coolmumsclub
I’m looking forward to the day I can do all these things again!!
I’m definitely making the most of sleep in my last few weeks of pregnancy!
Already with you on the missing being able to paint my toes, can only just get to them and it’s not comfortable. If what you say is true, I’m going to have to get used to that for other reasons very soon. Luckily I had a wonderful pedicure at a spa last week, which is keeping me going for the time being! #coolmumclub
I had pre-labour pedicures too just to make sure my feet were decent at least!!
Sleep/ lie-ins would feature highly on my list too! Oh and the having to plan EVERYTHING weeks if not months in advance (girls night out? Good luck! night away with Himself? pahahahahh!) and then arranging the childcare, packing overnight bags for everyone etc etc to then be told by the school that they’ve switched the dates for the school fayre and it’s the day you’re planning to go away oh and can you please send something in for the tombola? – Gahhhhhhhhh.
I wouldn’t change it for the world, obvs. π
#coolmumclub
I hate how school requests seem to be so last minute – the other day we got a letter the night before asking us to send them in with flowers the following morning…
I miss my free weekends when I could have done so many things, and I actually used to do so little. I miss all the free hours after work I could have used for working out or practicing yoga instead of complaining how tired I was. π And I definitely miss the lazy afternoons when I could read as much as I wanted. Lovely post. #coolmumclub
Thank you! We don’t know what we have until it’s gone..!
Oh where do I start…getting ready slowly for a night out and then being able to lie in bed or on the sofa the next day when you need recovery time! Being able to just go out for a run when I feel like it. Nice tropical holidays, oh yeah, I remember the days…….. #coolmumclub
What I’d give for a tropical holiday now!!