What's changed the most?

[pegleg715]

Since having kids what about you has changed the most?

My underwear selection is definitely different since having children, but I like to think that will go back when I'm done being pregnant. I never bought underwear in packages before.

My car has also changed too. Went from amazing German car I loved to.... Minivan. That's different.

I'm also no longer the night owl I used to be (despite making this post at 1am)

Oh and I enjoy alone time more than I ever used to!

What about you? What's different about you or your life?

[USCgirl]

Since I now stay at home, my wardrobe has changed from work clothes, to jeans and t-sirts or sweaters most days.

I have a flat butt now and smaller boobs (as if 34A wasn't small enough!), but am okay with my body.

I too have a very hard time leaving LO! My H and I went on our first legit semi date night last month! I am still afraid to go on vacation too far.

I actually upgraded my 1994 Accord to a new Pilot, so that was a huge plus!

[aylafsu1881]

I am always tired. I never feel like I get enough rest.

I find myself wearing the same clothes and rarely shop. Taking a toddler shopping with you is a nightmare.

I no longer care about staying up late to watch a movie. If it is longer than and hour and a half, I ain't got time for that now.

I never leave the house without snacks. It does not matter what time of day it is, I pack a snack of two in my bag.

[meow84]

Never in a million years would I have gone out in public without any make up on. Now, by the time I get everyone else ready, I just throw on some yoga pants and call it a day.

I seriously can't even remember what I did with all the free time I had before kids. I think most of it was spent at the gym, watching shows (in real time!11!) and going to bars.

[laurski81]

I strive to be in bed by 10pm, because otherwise I just can't function in the morning. My H and I used to go out all the time even if it was for a quick drink and now I can't remember the last time we were able to do that. Like meow84, I leave the house without makeup all the time now, something that I never would have done before (but I also think my skin is getting better as I get older, weird I know, so that helps too). I never realized how much I needed time to myself before having Henry. I took that time for granted and felt like I was always looking for something to fill up my empty spaces, whereas now I welcome it.

[jodielyn10]

I have let go of a LOT of my type A controlling neat-freak ways. I still make sure the house is cleaned every week and the dishes and toys put away before bed every night, but I've learned to live with a lot more "controlled chaos" than I ever have in my life.

I drive slower and safer. I didn't drive like a maniac before, but now I find myself making adjustments, slowing down, waiting for bigger gaps to turn, etc.

I've been skiing only once since the kids were born 

[irish1213]

Where do I begin? The biggest thing that has changed for me is my fitness routine. I used to be in great shape and ran 5 out of 7 days. Now I am an unmotivated blob who craves junk.

I think overall, the time, money and energy I put into myself has changed. I was never a fashionista but I kept my wardrobe up and looked nice everyday. Now I have a haircut that takes me 5 minutes to style and I wear the same clothes over and over again.

[bantyrooster]

Sleep. I haven't slept since 2011.

Me things. I use to get pedicures and massages at least once a month.

[summergirl1211]

My shopping priorities have changed. Instead of buying things for myself, I get so much more pleasure out of buying Riley a new toy or clothes.

I used to always want to go out with friends and get out of the house to do something, anything. These days I love hanging at home with my H and Riley.

I also have no idea what I did with all my free time! I don't read much any more, which I need to start doing again. But I definitely watch much less trashy tv and I have no idea how we'd keep up with anything without our DVR!

[aimeefarrahfowler]

Well. I used to have a lot more money in my bank account!

Before kids I would have never left the house in yoga pants. Now I do it on the reg.

I took a promotion for a position I had no interest in 3 years ago but it paid more money so now I'm doing it.

[xanthepants]

The shopping. Oh how I used to love shopping. My wardrobe used to be to die for. Now it still doesn't fit and is years out of date. I wish I had time to leisurely go shopping and the money. But priorities are different.
I used to sleep in until 10-11 on weekends. Now ha! Lucky if I get 6 am. Oh well. She's worth it and I will sleep again someday. And she will someday love to shop.

[cbear]

I feel like I am forever exhausted! I used to sleep in way late now I am forced into being a morning person. And of course the off chance I have the opportunity to sleep in I am up at 6:30!

We used to be SO social I mean if it was the weekend we were out with friends. I now would much rather be at home in my pjs with a book haha!

[junkytrunk]

I am probably more organized now than I was because M requires more things and I can't be as spontaneous as I used to be.

I too am not sure what I used to do with my free time. Just sat around watching tv and crafting.

[pinkluna]

Agree on the shopping...anywhere I go I look for things for the kids first and forget to shop for myself. I also do a lot more shopping online. No more leisurely weekend shopping trips for me.

DH and I love to travel but that's been put on the back burner. I'd love to go back to Europe but I'm not ready to go without kids and going with them so young is not worth it. Looking forward to when they're old enough to appreciate and enjoy travel.

I'm not so career-focused anymore. I'd rather have more family-time and a less stressful job than to pursue a more challenging and demanding job.

[zyas]

Shopping: I rarely buy myself clothes anymore but I'm always looking for new stuff for Ava.

I really love the times I can go to the store, any store, all by myself.

I hardly ever have time to read anymore.

My H and I haven't gone out alone for so long, the last movie we saw in the theater was almost a year ago!

[bliz1712]

I used to have more free time to do my hobbies like reading, crosstitching, and scrapbooking.

I actually work out more now than before kids. I'm still hanging on to this extra baby weight and really before Hanna I didn't have to workout as much. I could just watch what I ate.

I know my H is 100% different since before Hanna was born. I'm not sure why, but he doesn't care for my 2 kids nearly as much as he did for V when she was their age. Some of it is because he knows I will do it, and with V her Mom never would. But it's still frustrating.

Just the ability to go somewhere, out with friends, or away for the weekend on a whim. We used to do that a lot more. Now I'd rather stay home with the kids and then H usually goes out if something comes up.

[roo1582]

Definitely the shopping...I'm constantly buying new clothes, shoes, etc for the kids and rarely spend on me.

I also am different at work. While I used to be really worried about making great impressions and being "the best", it now really doesn't mean much to me anymore. I work to provide for my family, but the amount of effort I put into it is really different. I'm looking forward to the end of the day to get home to my family.

I'm much more of a home body. We rarely go out. If we do, its usually something we planned to do with the kids as opposed to doing things as a couple. It is something we need to work on as we definitely need more of that alone time together.

I worry about money a lot more since there's just so much more to pay for with kids.

I really don't worry as much about how I look when I'm out and about. Unless I'm going out with friends, I rarely put on makeup or really think too much about my outfit. Before I would have to make sure I'm put together (not dressed up but decent looking) even for food shopping or running errands.

[mightybee]

Like jodielyn10, I've learned to accept the controlled chaos. I think it's made me a bit more relaxed, in a good way.

[mrsrek10]

All of the above (minus Type A references because I am a scattered Type Z personality, lol)

I am tired.
I am not motivated as much professionally (hence the forever and a day this dissertation is taking me!)
I don't work out daily like I once did
I put myself dead last lately and really need to stop.

[nursedesi]

Being a stay at home mom. I guess I had never even thought of abandoning my career to stay home with kids.

All my free time. WTH did I do all damn day? Watch tv, read books, crochet, maybe nap every day. All that is gone now.

I also have no idea where my $2000 monthly income went... I paid the bills (roughly $700) and H paid the house payment ($800). Were did the other $1300 I made a month go??

My simple and plain living room. It now looks like a daycare. Looking back at pictures of the house before are crazy.

Also my MIL is here allllll the time. Before we would see her every two weeks or so, now she invites her self over for supper anf watches the kids 3 times a week so I can work out or go grocery shopping.

[origamimommy]

The most? Relationship with H. It's definitely different.

Other things include my wardrobe, career, and willingness to change. My wardrobe used to be "on fleek" as they say now, and I shopped constantly. I was young, in sales, and felt like as long as I saved some I cold spend the rest.

My career because I was in sales just to make a ton of money but hated it. Switching career paths has been the best thing for me. Such a good decision. Yeah I don't get to take every Friday off and spend the majority of my days doing literally nothing, but I'm so much happier. I want tyler to see you can be happy in your career and work hard and still have a home life.

Willingness to change s a big one. I never would've gone to therapy pre baby. But I've found out a lot about myself. I'm more humble and accepting of my flaws, whereas I used to ignore them or do my best to hide them. I was flamed for my spending habits before, so I don't think I've mentioned this, but I was diagnosed with something during my treatment and it completely explained my spending habits, hiding things from my husband, etc. I'm glad it was taken care of before it escalated to something worse, but before I wouldn't even have considered that I needed help, but I guess being a mom changes you.

[somethingcleverer]

Shopping would be a big one for me. I'm walking around with a target purse that is starting to come apart, which is a huge change from buying coach purses and dreaming of the day I bought a LV or Burberry bag. I was always relatively frugal but I would treat myself to nice things regularly. Now treating myself is a once in a blue moon type thing.

I also miss my friends. We are all so busy with kids that getting together is rare. It's not even a distance thing most of them live close its just we go where are kids activities take us and by the end of the day we are too tired to go out.

Being tired all the time. After I had shane my iron was low for months and bf didn't help. I don't think I ever recovered my energy from that time. Things are better now but I'm tired 90% of the time.

[sarahandeddie]

So much has changed since I became a mom 4 1/2yrs ago. I no longer go out to bars or even stay up all that late (unless I'm dealing with a kid). I sacrifice buying myself designer handbags and sunglasses so my girls can have everything they need and lots of what they want. I put them before myself 100% of the time. Since having Avery I also SAH. I get to stay in pj's as late as I want. Otherwise it's jeans for me pretty much every day. I don't miss work attire at all.

My sex life has also changed. DH and I used to regularly have sex in the afternoon when I got home from work and before he went to work. Now we're lucky to sneak in sexy time on his days off.

[mightybee]

Also, my bladder control. It's just not what it used to be.

[paddyb]

hmmm. Many of things listed above. I drive a different car (an SUV instead of my nice little sedan). I don't go out with my friends nearly as much as I used to. When I do I can't stay out as late. We don't randomly decide to go out to dinner, or to Happy Hour anymore. I don't spend as much on me as I used to (clothes etc) - that money (and then some!) goes to daycare.

[lilahbean13]

Eating what I wabt when I want. Also I used to stay up late and enjoyed being alone while the rest of the world slept.
Also my sex life isn't what it used to be unfortunately. It's exhausting wigh two kids and by the time we get them to sleep I want nothing more than to sleeeeeeep

[babywinks]

DH and I used to go out a lot - mainly out to eat and drinking - too much really. I couldn't tell you the last time I was in a bar. Friday nights used to be "where are we drinking tonight" now it's "what's new on Netflix" or "is 9 too early to go to bed".

I never thought I would want to SAH but I love that I get to be home with my kids all day.

[trixi282]

I almost never go to happy hours anymore. Before J I would go to HH on Friday sometimes and I would end upnstayjng out with friends until 10 or later, bar hopping g and dancing. Probably did that once a month.
I think my social life in general, as much as I tried, definitely took a backseat to home life, which is OK. There have been times it makes me sad, but I don't mind relaxing at home on a Friday night now.

I try to watch our finances a little more closely now too.... Daycare (x2 soon enough) is expensive! I was never a big spender/splurger, but I certainly don't save as much for what I want, I save for house, daycare, and clothes/toys/activities for J.

[justbeth]

I haven't been on much, and I'm way late to this. Not much to add, jut wanted to say that reading everyone's answers makes me feel way more normal! Most of my friends are still child-free, many still single, so I often feel like an old lady when I compare myself to them!

[nikki2223583]

My car has changed from a 2 door to a 4 door to a minivan. But I do love the van!

My body has changed too much! I was 128 before my DH and 145 before kids. Well that is not the case anymore. But I'm working on that now that we are done.

My underwear I would say too! I used to have the cutest cheeky styles. Now I don't ha. I need something to cover that fat ass up!

Coffee. I was never a coffee drinker before. Now I need my cup a day. Neeeeeeeeed it.