I wish someone had told me to:
1. Enjoy sleep. Nap. It’s a luxury that becomes a necessity you never seem to have enough of. Buy nice sheets. Roll around in them. Spend a whole day in bed. The next time you do it, you’ll be comforting a feverish, puking child and that’s not nearly as enjoyable.
2. Appreciate your body now. As flawed as it may be, after children it will be worse. Droopier, stretched out and mushy. Even your feet will be bigger. Get a pedicure and flaunt them.
3. Drive a fun car. A convertible or a Beetle. Blast music that you love. Soon you’ll be driving a minivan and singling along to The Laurie Berkner Band. Even when you’re alone in the car.
4. Travel with your spouse. Family vacations are wonderful, but not the same. And finding someone to watch three kids under five? Impossible.
5. Eat out at really nice places. Indulge in a five course meal. Chew your food. Savor it. Soon you’ll be dining at chain restaurants scarfing down left over grilled cheese. If you’re lucky enough to get to a nice restaurant once you have kids, you’ll be paying the equivalent of an extra meal in babysitting fees. Linger.
6. Do things spur of the moment. Jet off somewhere at the last minute, with nothing but the clothes on your back. Have an impromptu adventure. Once you have kids you’ll need to plan everything.
7. Call in sick to work and use the day for yourself. Moms never get the day off, and you’ll make up for that sick day ten fold by caring for sick children when you are indeed yourself, sick.
8. Spend money on yourself. Invest in some really great forever items, because once you have kids the trade off will not seem worth it. You’ll calculate the number of diapers you could buy for the cost of those designer sunglasses. Buy them now and wear them later.
9. Pee with the door shut. It will be years before you get to do that again.
10. Under-appreciate your parents. Roll your eyes at them. Question their actions and judgment. Tell them they don’t know everything. Once you have kids you’ll have a new-found appreciation for them, and discover that they know a lot more than you gave them credit for. Ignorance is bliss.
What do you wish you’d been told?























{ 79 comments… read them below or add one }
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i’ve watched 3 videos so far – better get back in the loop!
scrappysue’s last blog post..wordful wednesday – girls live here
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#9 had me laughing.
I can’t even pee without the dog barging in on me, for cryin’ out loud.
Shannon’s last blog post..Kooky Keywords
Twitter: NutHouseShannon
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Enjoy your food…now I am always having to share or I’m eating standing up or eating to fast to really enjoy it! Oh and the bathroom one…so true, so true….just this morning my words were…”Hey, I’m going to the bathroom in here, how about a little privacy??”
migrainemom’s last blog post..It’s an "Eeyore" day…
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I can’t you how many times I’ve ALMOST choked to death eating meals with my kids, and little children have no understanding of privacy as well…great entry.
Damon’s last blog post..Canker Sores and Home Run calls
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1. Enjoy sleep. Nap. It’s a luxury that becomes a necessity you never seem to have enough of. Buy nice sheets. Roll around in them. Spend a whole day in bed. The next time you do it, you’ll be comforting a feverish, puking child and that’s not nearly as enjoyable.
Duly noted… and heading back to bed now. ;-)
LiLu’s last blog post..TMI Thursday: I’m a Bit *Moist* In The Pants
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This list is priceless. I wish I read something like this YEARS ago, because you couldn’t be more correct!
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All of those are completely true and I wish someone had told me.
I’m going to forward this to a dear friend who is trying to conceive.
Connie @ Young and Relentless’s last blog post..Mommies Marching for Maddie
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I love this post. So true!
In fact, while my kids are still asleep right now, I’m going to go pee with the door shut in honor of you!
Whee!
XO
Anna
Anna Lefler’s last blog post..Wham. Bam. Mammogram.
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This was so great. Like always : ). Happy Easter to you and your scary, I mean WONDERFUL, family : ).
Life with Kaishon’s last blog post..An Easter Wish-
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I don’t think that there was a single point in this post that I couldn’t relate to. You’re brilliant, Jill.
Thank you again for the link love earlier this week. We are so appreciative. You’ve made life-long fans out of us. :)
-Francesca
Three Bay B Chicks’s last blog post..Chick Chat
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Wear a bikini. Take a picture of your stretch mark free, flat and jiggle free tummy.
Oh, how I wish I could remember what my mid section looked like before having 4 children.
MahoneyMusings’s last blog post..Stupidstore is Still Stupid
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I don’t have kids yet, but hope to someday. This was a great post. A good reminder to take in the joys of my life now…someday things will be very different. Thanks! xoxo
Miss E’s last blog post..Lights and Tunnels
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This should be printed up and given to all woman of child-bearing age who don’t have kids yet … and it should be followed by the phrase “THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!!!”
Jenners’s last blog post..The Obligatory 100th Post 100 Things Post
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So true…I wish I had been told. I was so clueless:P
Nap Warden’s last blog post..Chocolate Overload
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No truer words have been spoken. I always laugh when my pregnant friends make all these awesome plans…because I already know their lives are going to be about pooping, potty training and puke.
Lynette’s last blog post..I’ll be blouses
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I wish someone had warned me! Sheesh!
Jessica’s last blog post..GIVEAWAY! T-Shirt from Rockstar Mom Maternity!
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You just listed the 10 reasons why my husband and I aren’t having children. We like things like the freedom to go to the bar on Thursday night and stay up until 3am playing Guitar Hero waaaaay too much.
MonsteRawr’s last blog post..Oh, and before I forget…
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this is good birth control.
Aimee’s last blog post..every dog has her day
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Kind of depressing, reading these… oh, how I miss my flat abs!
Loukia’s last blog post..The good side of starting Kindergarten
Twitter: MrsLoulou
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Welp, looks like I have 6 more months until the craziness begins!!!! Yikes!! I’m scared now!!!!
Stephanie´s last blog ..watch me grow!
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11. Don’t procreate – children may seem adorable, but you get a lot more love from a puppy for far less stress and money.
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I might just print off a copy of this to post on my fridge, I’ll magic marker in the heading: YOU WERE WARNED. :)
WannabeMomErin´s last blog ..Blog Design – credit where credit is due.
Twitter: wannabemomerin
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I’m not stalking you! I just discovered your blog. #9-Totally true!
Judy´s last blog ..10 Things to Work on this Year
Twitter: cubs2win
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With regards to peeing with the door shut……..It got me thinking…You know I don’t’ have kids, but we have learned from many painful lessons that its best I go to the bathroom with the door shut…I knew alot of households that way when I was growing up…just in case, the demons from the 3rd layer of hell want to escape…..
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I just wanted to say that I absolutely love this post! Wow, what a reality check. I don’t have the kiddos yet, very eager to have them but now I know what I’m in for…I thought I always knew but you really spelled it out. Not scared away just scared.
http://thepursuitofmommyness.com/
The Pursuit of Mommyness´s last blog ..Thank Google it’s Friday Follow!
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Hi Jill.
This is my first time to your blog via POM. I don’t remember getting any of those tips. Sure wish I had. I never went out with my hubby or spent # on myself.
I have been enjoying reading your blog tips. I used to get anonymous comments so I changed my options to ‘only bloggers’ can comment. That way if someone has something negative to say, they can at least show their face/name.
Enjoying your blog. Will def be back. Please feel free to pop by my site some time.
shanilie´s last blog ..Home Schooling?
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I found your site through Pursuit of Mommyness today and I LOVE this list.
I’m 6 months pregnant and read through this list and was like, “yup, yup, DAMN! why didn’t I do that?, yup, yup, DAMN!”
Love it. Such good advice.
Jess´s last blog ..mamadanica1:We’re so Californian.Whatever.This woman has no…
Twitter: sutherslat
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You’re a genius! I was shaking my head and laughig out loud at ALL of these…especially the babysitter for 3 kids under 5 one.
Imagine our predicament…we have 4 under 5. Babysitters are nonexistent! So glad I stopped by! I’m a new follower!
P.S. My girl Kat fron Today’s Cliche sat by you at Bloggy Bootcamp and said you are pretty awesome! =)
MandyP´s last blog ..Follow Friday!!!
Twitter: MandyPMommyof4
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Love this :) They are all so right.
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