We asked MummyPages mums to share the biggest, unexpected change that motherhood brought to them, and this is what they said:
1. Sarah Coate: “[For me it is] the amount of love I feel for my daughter, and making me realise that I'm a stronger person than I ever thought. It has been an incredibly hard two years for us both - she was premature and I've been diagnosed with brittle asthma, a condition which effects both our lives each day. But I honestly believe I wouldn't have got through it without all with the love I feel for my daughter and the love she gives me back. I am so proud of the clever, loving, caring, polite little girl she has become and I wouldn't be who I am now without her. I've also learned to deal with the dirty looks of being a young mum (I had her at 19) and the sly comments about being a single mum.”
2. Melissa Palmer:”I think the biggest change is the love I have for my husband! Seeing him as a daddy and supporting me after a difficult labour has made me love him even more.”
3. Lauraine Cameron: “I truly never expected to be so tired and emotional over everything. I was so worried that my baby wouldn't like me when I had him and I spent so much time worrying that I was doing it all wrong - all the books in the world never prepare you for it. But I love my little man to bits - even now at 18 months I'm still so smitten with him!”
4. Claire Griffee: “[There are] so many, but biggest will have to be when I go back to work. It takes me ten minutes to drive and I usually get up 30 mins before I have to be in - can't see that happening again!”
5. Vickie Wright: “My biggest was the feeling of love for my child - a feeling I never believed existed and thought was exaggerated!”
6. Jane Louise Ross: “Appreciation and new found respect for my parents.”
7. Oonagh Kearney: “[When I became a mother] I realised that my life was never going to be the same - you live your life for that one person. Parenting is one of the hardest yet most rewarding jobs you will ever have the pleasure of doing. And seeing my son grow into a fine young man I have realised that you are wholeheartedly and unconditionally in love with your child no matter what.”
8. Caroline Sutton: “I guess the biggest change for me was my mind! Whether I’m sleeping, eating, running or at work the twins are always on my mind. It’s strange. They are a part of me but you never, ever switch off, and I guess that is where the wrinkles come in!”
