You made a decision to have a baby, you must have known that you would need to make some changes to lifestyle. That being said, there is no reason why you can’t still enjoy the things you used to. You just need to instil a good routine. You can still get out in nature, in fact it’s good for kids. Get a good baby carrier. You can still have holidays – you may just need to take your bub with you – we had holidays with our little ones. You can still go out for dinner – ask the grandparents to babysit. You can still have a quiet evening once your baby is down for the night.
You need to stop looking at the things you think are inconvenient and find a way to make it work and still find time for you.

I understand the feeling, it’s a big change and now a big responsibility. My son is now 9 years old and as he aged I got more time. It’s a season you’re in and every season will be different. I got told once “this season will past” and it’s so true.

Consider yourself lucky, my first baby, a son, is now forty and I still dress him, feed him, change his nappy etc. I envy you having a child without severe disability. You can grab your child and within a few minutes, head out the door to do whatever you like. In our case, we have to dress our son, prepare food to take with us, make sure his wheelchair is in the car and that’s just some of the things required to leave the home.
Once again, I envy you!

You can still have the life you had even while having a baby, I think people have to stop making excuses. when your baby is asleep, make use of hat time to relax, have peace and enjoy Netflix. When you plan to have a child there should be no regret but make yourself aware ahead of time that most of your time will be going to your baby. It is a gift to have that ability to bring life into the world. Enjoy nature when you go for a walk but put your baby in the pram and take her with you. plan your holiday, see if the baby’s grandparents wouldn’t mind looking after their grandchild for the week that your are away. take your baby with you if they can’t, but then plan your trip carefully that will keep you both safe. I am so over people saying that they regret having children or that they will never have children but there is ways to work around it and if you think that you dont have enough money, then put away then start small like a $5 a week in an envelope or every time you get paid, it could be your spending or fun fund, or me-time fund, or baby’s holiday fund. it can be done, some people use $5 for unnesesary things that they can make at home like grabbing a coffee when they go out. save that money for a bag of chips or chocolate, or ice cream, we can make a choice and it will work out if we are smart enough. Good luck to you and your baby I hope you can see this in a different way.

Life does change especially with a baby. If you have help with friends or family even your partner you are lucky and can leave your baby with someone and do some of your own interests so you feel more like yourself. Make your life how you want it to be. Some people go on holidays too if they are lucky to have family that can help or in laws that want to help.

Currently going through these exact feelings. I have a 6 year old son that was the easiest baby. Craved a second child and now I have the hardest, high maintenance daughter. Missing my old life and everything it used to be. Struggling big time at the minute and don’t see any way out.

My first child is now 30 and I regret having a child as well. She was a lovely little kid until she turned 13 and started playing up and calling the police every 5 minutes to report me for “abuse.” She turned my life upside down when she was 13yo and when she was 20 and ended up in jail for large commercial drug supply, I truly knew the Gods were not on my side.

I love my daughter but I don’t like the person she became and I often wonder what life would be like now if I had not had a kid.

I hear what you are saying. I really badly wanted to be a Mum but I must admit that there were moments where I felt that frustration that I could no longer dive into a book and just read all day. My kids are grown now and im back to my reading

Life goes in stages, we can look back and feel a sense of loss about what is gone.
We may want to go back to our childhood, but it’s over and we can’t go back.
I remember when I married and immigrated at the same time I struggled for a while with the loss of my singlehood, the loss of my country of birth, the loss of my friends, the loss of my job and then had some misscarriages so dealt with the loss of babies as well.
Whilst it’s important not to deny your feeling, it’s good to give them a place and learn to cope with life how it is at this stage with the strengths you have

Just because you have had a baby doesn’t mean you have to give up your life. You just have to rearrange your life. You just need to get the attitude that your life isn’t finished it’s starting a new chapter. Go and talk to a doctor about your feelings as this might help you.

Aw, I feel terribly for this mum. It’s a pretty common feeling to have that will hopefully fade. Life is different to what it was before, but its also filled with different joy and happiness. It can be hard to see these joys sometimes, but you need to focus on them. Celebrate the wins harder than dwelling on the woes.

I wonder about your age and influences that resulted in you having a baby… I’ve got a 5 month old, but I’m 43… wanted this baby for over a decade and had the most exciting, amazing life prior… so no regrets. I don’t feel I’m missing out. I did it all. Now I’m here for my son and love every second. Yes more sleep would be amazing but gosh… he’s such a privilege

Oh how awful to be feeling this. Buuuut, you’re still showing up and caring for your baby every day, you still love your baby, look to the positives right there

I think we all mourn for the life that we have lost, but we get over it and soon there are more things to mourn, going to school and not being home, then off to high school, then them moving out, getting married having children of their own. But the worse is the loss of a child, husband even more so than your parents. It is what is called LIFE.

It’s Pk to mourn that part of life. I love all my kids, but goddamn it I was happy before a particular child was born! It’s horrible to say and even more do to feel. This child has autism and ADHD so one can argue that my child isn’t to blame for behavioural issues (still a kid who will push boundaries and choose behaviour on some occasions). Every single thing, in every single day is a huge fight! I miss being able to spend time alone with my husband, being able to actually have a conversation, being able to afford to see a movie or something. I don’t regret any of my kids, but I do kiss my old life sometimes. I sure as hell miss not bring an after thought in my own life. Being able to work, see friends etc. I don’t know that the feeling passes. I’ve been a mum for 10 years and it’s been 8 since my extremely difficult child was born. But just know that you will be able to do these things again, and not when your child is a teen, or moves out of home. But pretty much when you want, if you have a good support network.

I’ve definitely experienced this at different points since having kids. My hubby works very long hours so I do the majority of the parenting by myself. At times I really feel like I’ve lost a sense of who I am as a person, I’m just mum, wife, cleaner, taxi driver, teacher, nurse etc.
You’re not alone.

I think every parent misses their “old life” at some point. Both my partner and I talk often about how easy things were before children, but we also understand that in a blink if an eye your old life will return, your kids will move out, and you will long for those long crazy days.

This is a pretty common feeling, but I think if it lasts more than a few weeks, you should definitely talk to a professional.

They are little for such a short time I know because it feels like yesterday I had a newborn who is suddenly about to turn 20 … before you know it they’re adults leaving the nest for the big world. Enjoy what you have every phase of the journey.

Your life doesn’t stop. It’s just different! You can enjoy outings and holidays and life *with* her baby. Please don’t ever make your child feel like they are a mistake. They are not.