Thread: Before kids....

Well... I wish I could play.. but I had my first at 17 and honestly cannot remember life "without" kids.

Don't get me wrong.. I would not send them back for the world.. (ok, so maybe there are moments when I would BUT looking back (geeez I sound old now!) it would have been nice to have waited a few years and given myself the chance to have a little bit of a life where I am not constantly stressed, dirty, cleaning and picking up kid stuff!!!!!

Life before kids:

*dh and I would go out at least 2-3 times a weeks
*I would eat out with my girlfriends almost everyday
*dh and I would take little weekend trips, just to get away
*he would play ball then we would go out with the team for pizza etc...
*we would go to the movies
*I would go shopping for me
*I would dress up everyday

After Kids:
*we rarely go out because it is just too hard
*I never go out to lunch with anyone and if I do it is a treat
*we don't go on any weekend trips with out it being planned for a long time and it is usually to just see family
*he does not play ball anymore
*have not been to the movies in ages
*I do still go shopping but it is for the boys
*I wear lots of t-shirts and jeans/sweats with tennis shoes

Life before pregnancy!

*I did my hair everyday
*The house was always cleaned
*I had dinner cooked when he got home
*I went shopping for me all the time
*Food bill was only about $100 a week
*Painted my toes and finger nails all the time
*Shaved my legs everyday
*Laundry was always done
*BDed when ever we wanted to

Life being pregnant!

*Hair is always just pulled back
*I could care less what the house looks like
*Dinner is "whatever is in the frig"
*I do Laundry once a week
*Shave legs??
*I paint my finger nails and toes once a month
*Haven't Bded for 5 months
*Food bill is now about $150 because I eat all the time

Awww, sounds funny, yet kinda depressing at the same time!! What about the GOOD things after kids? LOL

*Before Kids*
-We went out whenever we wanted to
*After Kids*
-We go out once in a great while after hunting down babysitters for a week and then deciding to just stay home and sleep.

*Before Kids*
-I dressed like a million bucks and my closet was filled with designer clothes, shoes, and cute little handbags
*After Kids*
-I dress like I'm homeless and my designer clothes has been replaced with sweats from walmart and my cute handbags have been replaced by one huge ugly oversized bag that I use as a diaper bag and purse.

*Before Kids*
-I shaved, I tanned, I got facials, I got manicures, and I got pedicures
*After Kids*
- I'm lucky if I get a shower every day

*Before Kids*
-We cooked and ate steak and seafood regulary for dinner and always with a glass of great wine
*After Kids*
-Most dinners consist of mac and cheese and hot dogs and is washed down with a tall glass of grape kool-aid.

*Before Kids*
-Sex was wild and we did it in every room whenever we wanted to
*After Kids*
-Sex? lol

This really cheers me up, girls! I've been feeling quite unlike "me" lately and I wonder how all the other moms handle having life change so drastically. Everything you all said is so true. No more going out to dinner on a whim or buying ANYTHING for myself or DH!!! I miss our old lifestyle tremendously, but those are the sacrifices we make for our little ones. One day, life will return to all of those extra fun things we used to do. Not for a long, long time, but it will happen, right????
Nicole

I agree with everything Sam said and others. Joce, don't get us wrong, it is WONDERFUL with the kids. Its just you realize you have to sacrifice alot when they come but it is totally worth it. DH and I were married for 8 years before kids and we totally had a major lifestyle change as we were used to going where we wanted and taking trips etc., BUT we wouldn't change anything to go back to our carefree, childless years!!

before kids my house was clean! there wasn't a constant film of sticky on door handles, light switches and faucets. there weren't finger or face prints on glass. my couches never suffered frrom accidental chocolate pudding spills, my floors didn't ever know what crayon was like. before my son though i was selfish and spoiled. i didn't know true love, i didn't know true sacrifice. now i have sticky kisses, i smell like syrup when i get to work. my heart is full and i am content. i love being a mom!

Before Kids:

Stayed out late at night and slept the mornings away
Couldn't do anything in the morning (or afternnon, depending on when I got up) until I got my coffee
Met up w/ my friends and hung out all day
Did laundry once a week
Made dinner (I was single then keep in mind) about twice a week
Had no clue what I was in for when I got PG

After Kids:
Stay up late caring for newborn, tending to a sick child, get up early to do it all over again.
Can't get my coffee until everythings done and kids are presentable for leaving the house to go to the coffee shop
Meet up w/ my friends with kids, once a month and go to the park for a few hours
Do laundry every day
Make breakfast and dinner every day for the family.
Can't imagine it any other way!