Anonymous wrote:Always know where your scissors and sharpies are.

I love this.

The years may be short but the nights are long.

I'm also the PP for marathon v sprint.

The PP who explained it did a good job - what I mean is that there's gonna be years when it's great and easy and others that are so hard. Days of guilt where you'll forget dropping them to an activity or class, you'll end up disappointing them, etc. days you'll beat yourself up. There will be other days your kid is damned lucky to have you be their parent. What I mean is to remember that it doesn't go by that fast nor that slow. There's just different stages is all. It's a lot of years that kid us gonna be yours so you want to forgive yourself for all the times you had a parent fail and be kind to yourself in between and not least of all be proud. What I mean ya that nobody tells you about all the bad stuff and focuses on the years post baby. But it's important to remember that it's not about how easy your baby is (if a good or bad sleeper),etc. it's thinking long term. They can do great in 2nd grade and mess up in 6th or vice versa. So you really have to approach parenthood as a marathon. It's easy to forget though - no joke!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The days are long but the years are short. Enjoy every moment.

I think anyone who says “enjoy every moment” is putting too much pressure on new moms and also doesn’t remember a lot of the moments!

So true. Someone told me something like "enjoy as much as you can" or "enjoy what you can" and I thought that was perfect.

Say no when they ask to play soccer.

12:00 - as a former marathoner.... parts of a marathon SUCK while you're doing it. But if you stick with it, you'll get to the end. And you probably won't remember the parts that sucked as much as you remember the feeling of accomplishment at the end. So you're doing this parenting thing for the end product - raising a great kid - and trying not to dwell too much on the sucky parts because those are fleeting.

A sprint is flashy and instantly impressive and it's over quickly. Parenting is not that.

Anonymous wrote:Don’t let THE lovey leave the house, except for overnights.

And get more than one!

Anonymous wrote:It's a marathon and not a sprint.

What does this actually mean? As in, what are you advising me to do differently based on it being a marathon?

Anonymous wrote:If you are not worried about him/her doing it at 20 don't worry about him/her doing as a toddler. (This is in reference to stuff like wearing shorts in the snow, or snow boots in August). It was advice a psychologist game me.

Also,

If you H complains about how much time and effort you spend raising his (and your kids) you picked the wrong man.

Okay don't write that... but it's true.

I think I’ll still be worried about shorts in the winter when DD is 20. I don’t ever worry about snow boots in summer, though, so I guess half the battle.

It's a marathon and not a sprint.

When they're inconsolable or you're at your wits end, either go outside or put them in water. Pool, bath, shower, whatever.

Add white vinegar to the wash to get the puke smell out.

Do what works for you.

Also, remember to laugh.

Set your kids up for success.

Don’t let THE lovey leave the house, except for overnights.

If you are not worried about him/her doing it at 20 don't worry about him/her doing as a toddler. (This is in reference to stuff like wearing shorts in the snow, or snow boots in August). It was advice a psychologist game me.

Also,

If you H complains about how much time and effort you spend raising his (and your kids) you picked the wrong man.

Okay don't write that... but it's true.