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!
I love being a mom! I've wanted to be one for a long time and we were finally blessed with a little one. They do grow up fast! I feel pretty lucky that I have a pretty easygoing kid and had no public tantrums. Aside from a few mom stares and "gentle" corrections, I've rarely had to punish her for anything. Who knows? Maybe I will have a terrible teenager! LOL
ReplyDeleteIt's the best job I ever had too. I wish I could keep her in our little bubble, but I know soon she will be independent.
My oldest and my youngest both threw a tantrum only once. Honestly, I rarely have had to punish them and I always feel awful when I do because they are so great. I know what you mean about wanting to keep them in that bubble though.
DeleteYou are right...it is the hardest job I have ever had. I have cried more tears of frustration and hurt than I care to admit, spent tons of time in prayer, gave myself "time outs", felt like I was the one being punished when I had to ground them, etc. My reward...my kids are now the most amazing, loving, caring and giving adults. Two of them have made me a grandmother, which is absolutely wonderful and one of my most favorite things ever! My husband and I also have an extremely close relationship with our sons and their wives (our girls) and get this...we choose to spend as much time as possible with each other because we not only love but like each other. ;)
ReplyDeleteYou guys like each other too?! Wow!!! Ha, ha, ha! That's because you two have done such a wonderful job and you are wonderful people! Cheers!
DeleteI wouldn't trade being a mom for anything! My daughter is 27 now, I can hardly believe it. She was an angel in her younger years... her teenage and young adult years have been... rough... but we have always remained close through everything.
ReplyDeleteTania
Ah, the teenage years. I'm in full swing once again.
DeleteSomeone once asked me, knowing what I know now, would I do it again. YES!!
Amen! Amen! For me, those years flew by so fast, that I sometimes wish I could do it over again. But then I have the grandkids for a week and change my mind! LOL
ReplyDeleteLOL, I'm sure!
Delete