Parenting

Parenting can be a tough gig.  I feel quite qualified to speak on this particular subject as I have been both a parent and a child.  By the time my youngest graduates from high school, class of 2021, I will have been full on parenting children for 35 years!!

Phew!  No wonder I'm tired.

That is the longest I've ever held any one job, that's for sure!  It is also the lowest paying job I've ever had.  In fact, this job actually costs me money!  Wait a minute!  I have to have a whole other job in order for me to keep this one.  Sounds kind of odd if you put it that way.

Not only is the pay lousy, but the hours are looooong.  24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and guess what?  There is no end in sight!  Let's face it, you're in it for the long haul!  This is no job for wimps.

Kids don't come with instructions, there is no owner's manual.  You can do your best to be prepared, but it pretty much boils down to on-the-job training.  And just when you think you've got it figured out the job description changes.  I mean one day you are cruising right along and then it does a 180 and you are going "What the....?"

Yep, you better be on your toes.

Children are the harshest critics too, and they aren't afraid to let you know when you screw up too.  It usually starts with a quivering lip, followed by really big tears.  And if you are super lucky a full on tantrum in a public place should clue you in.  Just in case you weren't fully paying attention to how they were really feeling.  And I've seen some teenager's scowls that will make even the toughest parent weak in the knees.  They could peel paint off the walls sometimes.

We are certainly not perfect, hard as we try.  Far from it.  There are always those days when we drop the ball and don't quite live up to expectations.  When suddenly we take a nosedive and go from best parent in the whole wide world to the worst parent's ever!  It is rough, I tell you.

I don't think you can truly appreciate your own parents until you become one.  It is only then that you become aware of the enormous responsibility of being a parent, the constant worry that your children will be okay, they'll be safe, they'll turn out alright, that the sheer number of mistakes we make won't completely screw them up for life.  And believe me, there are a lot of mistakes to be made along the way.

So who in their right mind would sign up for a job like this?  Well no one in their right mind would!  I think that is the point.  Because only the bravest of the brave can do this job.  Those that are strong in spirit, with loads of unconditional love to give out and the strength to ride out any storm.  The ability to nurture and care for another human being.  I mean you have teach them the things they'll need to know to grow up and do it themselves and call you some day and say "holy crap, how did you do it?"

And then you can smile, cause now you are a grandparent, and well....  payback is a..... 

But seriously, it is the best job I've ever had.  I love my children with everything that I am and never do I regret my decision to be their mom.  I am so incredibly grateful that God saw fit to bless me the way that he has.  Because at the end of the day, this job Rocks!!!

And I've got some really great kids!

So please, feel free to share your feelings about being a parent.  Tell us a funny story or something you are really proud of.  What is the best, or worst, part of your parenting journey.  Whatever you want to share!