Things I Said I’d Never Do As A Mum… Until I Became One

Oh, pre-baby me. So full of opinions. So full of energy. So full of sleep.

Before kids, I had a long list of things I swore I'd never do once I became a mum. Fast forward to now? Well, let’s just say I’ve eaten a big ol' slice of humble pie (cold, probably while standing over the kitchen sink while the baby screamed). If you’re a mum, you’ll probably recognise a few of these:

1. I’ll never let my kid have screen time.
Ha! I used to side-eye the mums handing their toddler an iPad at brunch. Fast forward to me trying to drink a coffee while it’s still hot — Bluey, take the wheel. I owe that little blue heeler my sanity.

2. My child will eat only organic, homemade food.
I envisioned purees made from organic produce, hand-picked at sunrise. Reality? Chicken nuggets, store-bought pouches, and fish fingers on high rotation. Hey, they’re fed. We’re surviving.

3. I’ll never co-sleep.
"They need to learn to self-settle!" I said. But when you’re running on two hours of broken sleep, snuggling that tiny, warm body next to you is suddenly the most logical choice in the world.

4. I’ll never raise my voice.
I pictured myself as the calm, zen mum who speaks softly and models perfect behaviour. Turns out, toddlers have a special gift for pushing every button you didn’t know you had. Sometimes the volume goes up. And that’s okay.

5. I’ll never bribe my child.
"We don’t negotiate with terrorists," I boldly claimed. But now? "If you put your shoes on, you can have a bikkie." Boom. Shoes on in 5 seconds flat.

6. I’ll never wear mum bun and activewear all day.
Oh how I mocked the uniform. But you know what? Leggings are comfy. Mum buns are practical. And some days, we’re just not out here winning fashion awards.

7. I’ll never let my house be taken over by toys.
LOL. The lounge is now a toy explosion zone. There are approximately 37 tiny cars under my couch right now.

8. I’ll never cry over a nappy ad.
Those tiny newborn feet. The sleepy snuggles. The soundtrack. Yep, I’m crying. Again.

Motherhood is full of surprises, and the biggest one is often how quickly we adapt and let go of all those expectations. The truth is: we’re all just doing our best. And sometimes that looks like Bluey marathons, cold coffee, and bribery biscuits.

To all the mums who said "I’d never" — welcome to the club. We get it. And you’re doing amazing.