I have been a mum for nearly a year now. Our beautiful baby Joey turns one on Saturday.

So what’s it like? And have I learnt anything?

Without sounding hyperbolic, becoming a mum has given me a reason to live; a defined purpose that begins and ends with keeping my son happy and healthy. This takes up a lot of the space in my life that I used to fill with dumb ass things like drinking and partying.

I may not sleep all that well but I have definitely calmed down on the going out front. I hardly ever go anywhere these days. I cook at home. I walk around the neighbourhood. I watch more TV than I ever have before.

I finally feel like I have a home, and a family, and that I have a clear place in the middle of it.

And I just love him so much. This is not news. A lot of parents say this but this expansive, all-encompassing adoration is like a light that never goes out.

It’s this light that gets you through the dark bits. The long nights of breastfeeding, the never-ending washing and cleaning, and the exhaustion.

Watching your child grow and develop is pretty much the funnest thing ever, and making a baby laugh is the best thing on earth. Holding your sleeping child runs a pretty close second.

You give up a lot of your old life for this new life.

You give up sleep. You give up vanity. You give up being carefree.

You replace these things groundedness, tenderness and a lot of cleaning.

Your true friends stick with you. Your less attached friends drift off.

Your family want to hang out with you (read: the baby) more.

And the whole thing brings everyone together with the joint purpose of sharing in the wonderfully, deeply human thing that is raising a child.

A few things about Joey:

• He LOVES bananas
• He smiles a lot (he currently has three teeth)
• He loves watching the water go down the drain in the bath
• He thinks his sisters are hilarious
• He loves swimming with his Dad
• He is obsessed with the bins and the toilets (he’s a classy guy)
• He knows how to use a hose and water the garden (proud Mum)
• He tries to escape every time you try to dress him. Every morning involves chasing Joey and trying to put a nappy/t-shirt on him
• He is the best

What did becoming a parent teach you? And what are your favourite bits?