September 27, 2016
Parents, do NOT beat yourself up for these things
- A messy house. Sometimes, having floors clean enough to eat from is not the most important thing in the world. Are your kids alive? There you go. Pat yourself on the back. Today’s a win! It’s okay to remember that you LIVE in your house, and that sometimes houses that are lived in look like people live there.
- Having negative thoughts about parenting. Let’s just put the kibosh on that myth right now. Just because you’re a parent doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to have totally frustrated thoughts about parenthood. Being a parent is a huge challenge, and kids aren’t always nice. You’re allowed to feel anger, resentment, and like you want to throw your hands up in the air and run away.
- Okay, so the kids were late to school. IS THIS A CRIME???!! No. This is not a crime against humanity. This is called letting life happens, and sometimes life (or a teenager who absolutely refuses to get out of bed) makes you late for school.
- Microwaving dinner. We want to feed our kids healthy food as much as the next person, but not all of us live in a world where organic produce can be magically whipped up into a perfect three-course meal that includes every possible micro-nutrient, and a smile. Resorting to convenience is not a failure, it’s a time-saver and a life-saver and a sanity-saver.
5. Forgetting about something. Parents are required to keep heroic amounts of information in their heads at all times, on top of the not-so-small task of growing a small human being into an adult. Whatever it is you forgot — soccer practice, a permission slip, their lunch — this does not make you a bad parent. Your brain is allowed to be tired and we promise, the world will still go on.
- Giving in. Sometimes we have to give in. Fine, stay up an extra 30 minutes. YES, you can have ice cream and a candy bar for dessert. Okay, Icees it is for everyone! You don’t want to take a nap? Okay, no nap for you! Hey, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. If saving your sanity means striking a few bargains…strike away.
You’re an incredible parent. We’re so proud to know you.
