Parenting is hard.
It’s rewarding, and joyful, and beautiful, but also… it’s hard.
I was listening to the radio yesterday and Sheryl Crow came on, and she started singing, “No one said it would be easy…” and then, “But no one said it would be this hard.”
I know my hard isn’t as hard as others. I know I’m lucky. But sometimes parenting is hard. I know you feel me. I know you think that sometimes too.
Did you watch that Sex and the City movie {I can’t remember whether it’s one or two}. The one where Charlotte is making cupcakes with her girls and one is having a meltdown and the other is doing something {painting icing in places it shouldn’t go?} and Charlotte takes a moment in the pantry. Haven’t we all had one of those moments? Well, I wish I had a walk-in pantry to retreat to… but I’ve had moments similar.
This week has kicked my butt parenting-wise. Nothing major. This week just seems harder than others, and I’m about to embark on a stint of nights without Hubby while he does night shift… which makes it less fun. So I put it to my friends on Facebook. I asked them for tips. What makes parenting easier for them? The answers were like stumbling across parenting gold. Some made me laugh. Others made my cry. Others put it all into perspective for me. You can read them all her, and share yours too.
Here’s a few of my favourites:
I agree with putting yourself in time out! 🙂
I used to find that whispering was great for calming everyone’s voices…until the Little Mister started shouting “STOP WHISPERING! WHY ARE YOU WHISPERING?!” hahaha
At least it made me laugh. Which is my advice. Find the funny or find the blogging potential! Share it and realise you’re not alone xx
I love that Kez – find the blogging potential!!
Theres nothing wrong with a family cry. The other day as I held my sick, screaming 5 month old and watched my almost four year old sobbing with her hands over her ears, I thought eff it I’m in too. Next minute I’m doing it alone! Who would’ve thought mama tears were all that was needed. I drank my emergency margarita that day. Always keep an emergency margarita in the freezer. Sometimes it’s just comforting knowing it’s there.
What brilliant ideas! I haven’t got kids or a pantry but I am a big fan of the silent scream, at work in the copy room and at home, in the laundry. There’s almost nothing that a silent scream can’t fix. It’s like cake or wine only with less calories! I think this could be a whole series of Parenting 101 from Mums on the Front Line. xx
Bookmarking this for future reference!
Pick Your battles, each child needs different parenting, always remember baby came to live with you, Santa is a bribe tool, cereal for dinner is perfectly ok one night a week, make the bed with two lots of sheets and extra mattress protector when toilet training,
Don’t be too hard on yourself, you’re only human. I was at a parenting workshop once and another parent said that she was working on teaching her children to use kind voices and not to yell and scream at each other when they don’t get their way. On the way to school that morning someone had pulled out in front of her and she yelled, beeped the horn and muttered a few words inappropriate for her young children’s ears. The psychologist who was running the conference said “you’re only human. They need to realise that you make mistakes too. Besides, isn’t it better they hear those words from you, rather than from the drunk down the street?”
Oh. And get a robot vacuum cleaner. Best investment ever.
Pick one day or night a week and for a few hours do something just for you. I picked a Wednesday night and 20 years later I am still line dancing, it’s my second home and my saviour through the early years, teenage years and moving out years. Don’t think I would have survived with out it ❤️
I am not qualified to give any parenting advice. Except – you will survive it. Because I have, and if I’ve survived nearly two years with no sleep and a maniac daredevil child, then anyone can. PROMISE.
No 4 with wine!
So many wise words. I love the talking quieter one. Most of the time I yell above the kids and it’s basically a scream. I want to try being quieter and seeing what effect that has. I am having for some time with my folks. Time with MaMa and Pa is the bomb!!! Jx
parenting TRULY sucks sometimes!!! everyone who’s been there can feel your pain. xo
Some fabulous tidbits of advice. I’ve had a crazy few weeks of parenting but remembering not to sweat the small stuff is helping. x
Just putting it out there, parents I hope you manage to survive the school holidays 🙂
I always spoke quietly to my daughters – I recommend this to all my friends with small children. If you yell they think they need to yell and no-one would hear anything. The quieter I was the more my girls knew they were in trouble. One thing I wish I knew at the time – don’t sweat the small stuff.