Tuesday GTKY

[mommyatty]

1) What is something you miss about your time before kids?
2) What is something you really enjoy about having kids?

[mommyatty]

1) I miss aimless shopping. DH, MIL, and I used to just wander stores with no mission. Just to pass time. And sometimes we would find something great we would want to buy. And most times we wouldn’t. DD is getting to the point at 12 where she sometimes will do this, but mainly she will do it with my MIL.

2) I enjoy hearing about what they having going on at school and celebrating their successes. Like DS got his report card yesterday and had all Bs, including two grades that were super close to As. That’s really good for him. And he had all “Excellent” conduct grades, which is really important to me. It was really fun to celebrate that with him.

[rere]

1. I don't exactly miss it, but I wish I did a lot more of it, was traveling. I spent so much time focusing on paying off college, saving for a house, finding the right job, in my 20s, that I didn't really travel. Now I feel like I'm catching up. We did vacations with the kids every year, which was high priority to expose them to different places. There are so many places on my list to go.

2. Having kids in the house. With one in the Army and one in college, I love when they are home. I love the noise, Ds is a super loud person who makes random noise or bellows, I even love the Dr. Pepper cans and socks everywhere. I love that they are in and out and just around.

[mae0111]

1) What is something you miss about your time before kids?

I miss DH picking me up at work and having a leisurely dinner on our way home from work. Or meeting up in the city to do something fun after work. Also, I miss being organized and knowing where all of my stuff is because no one has borrowed it.

2) What is something you really enjoy about having kids?

I actually really enjoy watching my kids play sports and participate in activities and do things that they love. Nothing makes me happier than to see them have success with something that they've worked hard at - DD2 has an awesome, well-placed corner. Or DD2 congratulating or consoling a teammate - because she's always the first to do both. Or DD1 has mixed the vocal and guitar tracks just the way she wanted. Or to see either of them on stage - DD2 with drama and DD1 with her music.

[librarychica]

1) Honestly, I miss not worrying. I’ve become a real worrier since I had kids. I try to keep it on lock down but still. I also miss the more physical aspects of marriage taking place other than in my bedroom when the kids are sleeping, lol.

2. I just like them. I really enjoy them as people and enjoy their company. I like doing things with them, I like hanging on the couch as a family, I just like being around them for the most part.

[waverly]

1. For a long time I missed my freedom. To just go to the store, to just leave the house. But, now that mine are in middle school, I am getting that freedom back to come and go as I please a bit more.

2. I enjoy hanging out and doing fun things with the kids for example, DD and I went to the fall market Sunday, and it is really cute. DH isn't into those things.

[sdlaura]

1. I miss the lack of mental load. My to do list could sometimes be completely done pre kids. I also miss that I could extend work trips and visit with friends in different cities, even just dinner the night before a meeting. Now I will create my own flight connection just to get home faster to be with the kids and help with all the logistics. Oh, and lazy Sunday mornings reading my paper copy of The NY Times

2. I love seeing my kids interact nicely with each other. Because there are four of them, even if two of them are not getting along, two of them usually are. Last night the two little boys were reading an I Spy book together and selecting things to have their brother find. It was super cute. I also really love traveling with the kids. It’s not relaxing, but it is fun. Hopefully they are appreciative that I’m spending the cost of a kitchen remodel to take them on an international trip in a few months. All my kids are also really affectionate and tell me how much they love me all the time, which is always nice to hear.

[polecat8]

1. I miss the carefree, easy-going nature that DH and I had before kids. We enjoyed doing whatever whenever we wanted. It was especially fun when we would take random road trips to visit friends or a new place.

2. I love watching my kids grow. It is exciting to see them learn new things and pick up hobbies/activities that are very similar to mine and DH's interests (through no fault of our own). I love watching them giggle and laugh together and create their own inside jokes. It blows my mind to watch DD become a young adult. She is beginning to think about life after high school and I don't know if I am ready for that yet!

[186momx]

1. I miss the stress/mental load of making sure everything is flowing smoothly. I miss pre-DH and dog the alone time. I can't even go to the bathroom or take a shower without someone needing me.

2. I love watching DD learn new things. She is also a really good hang out buddy most of the time.

[soccermama]

1) What is something you miss about your time before kids? - I miss getting ALONE time. I really miss that...which I guess is why I stay up the latest in my family so I can have some semblance of that, otherwise it never happens.

2) What is something you really enjoy about having kids? - My kids make me laugh and I love it. DS especially is a "ham" and you never know what he is gonna say!! They are both funny and I love them to pieces. I also really enjoy watching them play sports. They both play what I played (Vball & soccer), so that is super fun!

[twinmomma]

1. So this is weird, but I feel like I didn't really have much time before kids to experience much. I was only 25 when I had them, so I was barely an adult out of college at that point. So I guess what I miss is that I missed out on the young adult lifestyle of doing what I want, when I want.

2. I genuinely love having these middle school daughters who want to hang out with me and tell me all about their lives, go shopping with me, have insides jokes, etc. They're like little besties that I get to mentor and help grow into strong women and it's so fun and satisfying! I'm much better now than with babies or little kids.

[dglvrk2]

1. I can't think of something I miss. I partied a lot pre-kids, but it was okay to leave most of this behind. In retrospect, I wish I had appreciated the occasional lazy weekend morning more. I want some of those back.
2.My d's are truly funny young ladies and I love sharing laughs with them. I also like seeing what makes them excited. It's certainly not what I expected, so I get to learn from them on this journey too.