What they don’t tell you about parenthood is that some of the days can nearly break you.
Between dealing with tantrums, cleaning up messes, and making lunches there are constant fires to put out.
Your laundry is a bottomless pit.
Your dishwasher seems to never be empty.
You want to clean but they want you to play and you know playing is more important...but sometimes you just want to sit and breathe.
What they don’t tell you about parenthood is that you can get to your wits end day in and and day, and you feel like you may be failing your sweet kids.
What they don’t tell you about parenthood is that you have this guilt that you carry. That guilt that you carry around says things like:
“I should play with my kids more,” “I should only let my kids eat fruits and vegetables,” “I should never yell at my kids no matter what they do…” and the list goes on.
What they don’t tell you about parenthood is how emotionally and mentally breaking it can be. You know you shouldn’t expect your children to act perfect every day, but sometimes you just need ONE good day. One. Is that TOO hard to ask? Because sometimes, in parenthood..it is.
You see, what they don’t tell you about parenthood is that it’s trial and error the entire ride.
What works for some parents, won’t work for other parents, and those “other” parents beat themselves up because they must be doing something wrong in their mind.
What they don’t tell you about parenthood is that these souls you are raising…well, they are all very different from each other. There are no two alike, even if you have twins, you are parenting differently all the time and sometimes it can make you crazy…
When theres tantrums, and messes, and trials of potty training, and then homework, and sass, and attitudes… there’s NO “sick day,” or “Clock out,” …..
What they don’t tell you about parenthood is that yes you are constantly learning and improving and you feel bad your kids have to go through that with you…but guess what? It can make both of you stronger.
What they don’t tell you about parenthood is that no matter how much you need a break or vacation from the stress of parenthood…when you physically are separated from your kids…you miss them.
What they don’t tell you about parenthood is how great that feeling is when you see your kids accomplish a task they have been working towards….you see their eyes light up and there’s no amount of money that could make you happier than to see your child feel happy and successful.
What they don’t tell you about parenthood is that when you get a genuine “I love you” or a great big hug, your heart could literally burst with love.
What they don’t tell you about parenthood is there’s a lot more “hard stuff” than you ever imagined. Watching your kids suffer from illness, bullying, struggle of any sort…feels unbearable to watch at times. Knowing as parents we should be able to “fix” their problems, and when we can’t…your heart feels shredded.
And yet, what they don’t tell you about parenthood is that through all the growing pains, and struggles, and tantrums and cross words… theirs a light.
That light is constant love.
What they don’t tell you about parenthood is that no matter how hard it is, or how enduring it can become…you never cease to love those beautiful souls you call children.
Despite seeing the VERY worst sides of your children…you have the power to see the incredible and amazing sides of them too.
What they don’t tell you about parenthood is that you have a “Superpower”…you can see through all the bad qualities within your child…and find the beauty and power within these beautiful souls.
What they don’t tell you about parenthood is that when you realize your child looks up to you…you want more than you ever have….to be better.
What they don’t tell you about parenthood is that the love you can feel for a beautifully imperfect person is indescribable. There are no words, and there never can be.
You see, parenthood tests you to your deepest limits and strongest lines, but what always wins is the love you have for your children.
Those beautiful souls smiling at you, or waving good-bye to you….you realize, that piece of you is more important than any tangible item in the world.
What they don’t tell you about parenthood, is how amazing it can be. And amazing encompasses all the flaws…because parenthood wouldn’t be parenthood without the struggles.
The struggles make us love stronger, to care deeper, and to encourage more.
What they don’t tell you about parenthood, is that you will never sign up for anything more enduring in your life. There is no “finish line” in parenthood. You will still be worried about those beautiful souls–your children, when they are fifty years old.
But guess what?
You wouldn’t have it any other way.
The memories you have with those precious, beautifully imperfect souls, will be the highlight of your entire life. No trophy, no raise, nothing will come close to those tiny, precious moments you create with your children.
Yes those moments are wrapped in trials, and difficulty….but all good things are right?
So my advice to YOU and mostly to myself. Is cherish the chaos, try to see the good moments in every single day.
Because we all know, the years move fast. And one day, we will long for the chaos we once had.
What they don’t tell us about parenthood is that it takes more perseverance than you ever imagined. Even at seventy years old you will lay awake in bed worrying about your children.
What they don’t tell us about parenthood is that their choices, good or bad, affect us parents deeply. The love we have for our children is indescribable, and when they hurt, we hurt.
You yourself may have never dealt with an addiction, or gone through a divorce, or dealt with a chronic illness….and yet, if your children have gone through any of these, you have gone through it and then some.
What they don’t tell us about parenthood is that it’s life-changing. Everything is at a different level of hope, love, and faith when you have children.
No matter the age, the love for your children holds strong.
What they don’t tell you about children, is that you can’t tell anyone all of this. It has to be experienced, it has to be your own journey.
No walk of parenthood is the same, there is no way to prepare you for what is ahead.
But what you always have known, will hold true to the end. You LOVE your children. Parenthood is not a walk in the park, but it is a true gift from God. Enjoy your journey of parenthood that may be filled with happiness, sorrow, joy, and tears.
Parenthood brings on an entirely new life that you never could have imagined on your own. Your heart is pumping not just for you now, but for your children, and the joy and journey of parenthood truly creates a life that is indescribable.
What they don’t tell you about parenthood, is that it is a blessed experience that will continue to increase in love and devotion.
Go experience parenthood with love and grace and you too, will see how truly indescribable your parenthood journey will be.
