This.
This is parenting, or a more accurate rendition, and one that happens in my house on a near daily basis, since we are in the throes of potty training. Oh the joys of pooping for an M&M.
Of course, there are the picture perfect moments, the ones on Facebook and Instagram; the ones we watch on repeat that makes parenting seem effortless, the snapshot worthy seconds we view with envy, the picture I myself posted earlier this week.
(Hashtag guilty as charged.)
The reality though is very different, and it rarely makes the highlight reel.
Parenting Is…(The Uncut Version)
Parenting is eating the hotdog skin your child refused because you’re starving (yes, it’s as disgusting as it sounds). It’s crumbs all over their little bodies, in between your toes, inside your pockets, on your lap, the couch, the car and any other surface you can fathom. It’s sticky hands and handles. It’s never owning a clean shirt again.
Parenting is chaos, a loss of control, a lack of privacy and personal space.
Parenting is eating the now cold Kraft macaroni and cheese they begged for and then refused to eat. It’s wiping butts and feet and tiny crevices, sometimes while your child wails and bucks.
Parenting is rationalizing in the face of the irrational. It’s crayons on your wall, in their mouths, and down the toilet. It’s plumbing fiascos, monster truck sized messes and unlimited accidents, of various sizes and varieties.
Parenting is repeating yourself twenty six times before they acknowledge you opened your mouth. It’s defiance, selective listening, and stepping on pointy and painful little toys designed to deconstruct your foot.
It’s losing your patience, saying something you shouldn’t and then spending hours sitting with remorse and guilt, except you’re never actually sitting because parenting is doing all the things, at all the times, unless you allow them thirty minutes of screen time, in which case you’re the devil and warping their precious little minds for decades to come.
Parenting is playing pretend and make believe in a world you don’t understand, much less want to visit. Can someone please tell me why my daughter thinks there are so many frogs there?
(Parenting is walking through the park in your pajamas, with a barely there bra and a white t-shirt so your child can see the construction trucks, while the workers can pretty much see your nipples.)
Parenting is calming the little people through their meltdowns, while biting back your own. It’s frustration in your voice at five o’clock, and the internal countdown to bedtime, desperate for a few minutes to yourself, knowing most nights you’ll be too tired to enjoy them.
Of course, there are tender moments too: the sweet sighs and snuggles, the tops of their heads, their soft downy hair, tucked into the nape our necks or burrowed in our chests. There is loud laughter, boisterous belly laughs, and literal jumping for joy. There is boundless energy and untainted excitement for even the smallest of things, like oranges and warty toads; the bumpier, the better.
When it’s all said and done though, you’ll find far more tears, trying moments and excrement in our daily routines. Looking at it on paper, I don’t know why anyone procreates on purpose. And yet, we do; again and again.
I can’t explain it, but I do know I wouldn’t change it for anything.
Bring on the frogs.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go earn my M&M.
such a sweet post and so very very true. 🙂
Momming is tough work, and absolutely worth it.
Meghan recently posted…Parenting Is (The Uncut Version)…
THANK YOU so much for posting this, it was so timely given my day yesterday!!! Yesterday was a long day with my 3 year old and I ended the day feeling bad about losing my patience with my daughter at times and not always being engaged with her. And by the end of the night, when she was having a meltdown about having a different blanket on her bed because her usual blanket was still not dry… My daughter is such a good kid so I find myself feeling like a crappy parent when I do lose my patience. Parenting is so incredibly hard a lot of the time but it’s nice to know that we aren’t alone.
You are definitely not alone. The sweet little buggers are amazing and test our patience is ways I can’t even imagine. When we don’t get any space or time away, it gets really hard to maintain control and a calm composure at all times. I know I’m not capable. I just keep trying each day and am thankful the little ones are able to forgive as easily as they can test us. Now if we could only forgive ourselves as quickly… 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Parenting Is (The Uncut Version)…
I don’t know how you’re doing it but you are doing a fabulous job! The thing with the crumbs everywhere is something I don’t understand either! Where do they all come from????
As for the frogs, maybe the Elmo episode with all the frogs gave her that idea!
Juli recently posted…Week in Review – The Jetlagged Edition
Elmo has taught her entirely too much. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Parenting Is (The Uncut Version)…
Oh yes to all of this. You are SUCH a good mama.
Jamie@TheMomGene recently posted…This is the Joy of Watching My Non-Verbal Son Learn to Read
Thanks love. Sometimes we need reminding of that, especially on the days we tend to lose our patience, which seems to be a lot right now. Sigh.
Meghan recently posted…Parenting Is (The Uncut Version)…
You ate HOT DOG SKIN but you won’t eat sushi? I’m going to shove salmon down your throat when I see you next. I’ll bring GiGi to help. LOL!
Did you earn that M&M?
I didn’t say the hot dog skin was good. 🙂
Of course I earned that M&M.
Meghan recently posted…Parenting Is (The Uncut Version)…
I can’t WAIT to read your posts when Ave is a teenager! 🙂 Your little girl is adorable. You are a lucky mommy!!!
Laurie recently posted…What Kindness Is Written on the Tablet of Your Heart?
I suspect when she’s a teenager, I’ll be hiding in my closet with chocolate, cheese and wine. Oh wait, I do that now. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Parenting Is (The Uncut Version)…
I diddo Laurie – oh how I can’t t wait until you are a mama of a teenager.
You’re doing a fabulous job. You deserve alllll the M&Ms.
Cora recently posted…Enjoying My Recent Eats and Some Easy Meal Ideas
Thanks lovely. Some days its a struggle and the mom guilt is strong. This parenting gig is a tough business.
Meghan recently posted…Parenting Is (The Uncut Version)…
I feel like we all deserve an M&M…
Parents are rock stars. I know folk write ‘I don’t know how you do it’ but I think we do amazing things for the people we love, even if they are toddlers, can’t rationalise and drive you crazy. Love really does make it all worthwhile.
Jen @ Chase the Red Grape recently posted…Week in Review
M&M’s for everybody, especially the single parents. They deserve a cocktail of M&M’s.
Meghan recently posted…Parenting Is (The Uncut Version)…
Yes to all of this! Parenting is no easy work, but it’s worth it.
Oh every disaster can be ignored after seeing my child’s face except peeing anywhere in the home sweet home.