I wish I would have...

[gmarble]

This is a question for all of you who already have kids.  Is there anything you wish you would have done before you had kids that is difficult or impossible to do now?   How should we first-timers take advantage of this quiet time before our lives change forever?

[rebekah385]

Yes, I think it would have been nice to go college, before having a baby. it would have made things simpler, but that does not mean that it is impossible! I have 3 children ages 6,4, and 2 and am currently pregnant with #4 and until last febuary I was working and going to school (I had my 1st baby at 18). i am a year and half into my 2 year degree it's not easy, but if you really want something you can do it! after i finish my 2 year degree i am planning on transferring to a 4 year school and getting my bachlors degree! I am still going to school although I have decided to stay home with the kid's now instead of working it was a pay cut for us, but now i can focus just on the kid's and school! Good luck to all you other moms out there that are going to school or thinking about going back to school you can do it!

[ashleighnb]

I had my daughter when I was 19 but suprisingly I really don't have any regrets or things I wish I had done before hand. Getting pregnant actually matured me and made me ready for the real world. I don't think there was anything I didn't do before hand that I wish I had done. I graduated at 17 and had two years of sewing my royal oats. Today I hang with the older crowd because my younger friends are really immature and just not on my level so to speak. I would say going to college but I am doing that now, Im supposed to graduate in october but I think it will be november now as I am taking a month off when the baby comes.

[gmarble]

All - thanks for sharing!  Though I should have finished school before at least it's not to late to pamper myself, spend time with DH and save a little money.

[feather2e]

I think I would have spent more time with my husband. Gone out to dinner, a movie etc.. It is so hard to find time for each other  when you have children.

[Maxine77]

For me I would have saved more money. Having kids are not cheap and I do wish that instead of spending too muich on clothes and what nots in my sniglehood I had thought the day would come extra cash would come in handy. Another one - would be being mentally ready to have kids than just have kids because my parents in law expected me to have one straight away. I should not allowed myself to feel that pressure and taken my time to have my 1st kid.

[KarenDiane]

I can only think of one thing.... gone to college. It's possible to do it now, but about a thouisand times harder.

[rebekah385]

I think one thing that I wish i had done more before i had kid's/ when I was pregnant with my first was make sure i spent some extra one-on-one time with my husband/boyfriend. after the bay comes even if you hire baby-sitters you will not have as much alone time together as you did before the baby, I think it is especially important when you are pregnant since your relationship will be different after the baby not neccasarily worse or better, but different. the first few weeks after baby you may not feel much like lovers or  even a couple, being "parents" changes a lot! I love going out with my husband, but since we have 3 kid's (6,4, and 2) and another on the way we do not get to be alone as much as we would like. take advantage of it while you can! I also agree with eddiblair about pamperign yourself you probably won't get to do that as much either! Good luck!  

[eddiblair]

Wow what a hard question! I wish I would have pampered myself more back then. I had my first when I was 19, which was very early in my life. I think it would have been a lot easier if I'd have waited until about 25. That's when I really began growing up! Now I have 3 and one on the way and I just don't ever have time to myself. I haven't had a haircut or pedicure in 14 months. Sure I could find a baby sitter to go do these things, (DH works a lot), but it's hard for me to just leave my kids with anyone. Plus, my oldest is 9 now and into a lot of activities.
Good luck and thanks for the challenge!