Parenting Is Hard, And That's Normal, Just Ask My Mom
Submitted By Kristi Crafton, Patriot Mom and Teacher
Recently, a mom of several children called my mother in frustration. She was having a difficult time with her kids and needed a shoulder to cry on. My mother’s response? “Oh, there were several times while I was raising my kids that I wanted to run down the street screaming, ‘THEY’RE DRIVING ME CRAZY!’” Now, maybe my mother’s a little warped, or maybe that tells you what I put her through while I was growing up. Funny enough, my mother’s friend felt a whole lot better.
Let’s face it; parenting is hard. We all know the blessings and great things that come with children, but no one likes to admit that there are days that we would like to abdicate our responsibilities, if only for a day. Because of this, we sometimes look at other families and think that mom has it all together and never has a bad day. The truth is we all have bad days.
What is the first emotion we go through when we have a rough time with our kids,? Well, first, there’s probably anger or frustration, then GUILT, GUILT, GUILT! We’re not supposed to feel that way, right? We are Uber Moms, super spiritual and capable of handling any and all things thrown at us, right? When the comparisons start, we begin to feel like a failure.
What is the first emotion we go through when we have a rough time with our kids,? Well, first, there’s probably anger or frustration, then GUILT, GUILT, GUILT! We’re not supposed to feel that way, right? We are Uber Moms, super spiritual and capable of handling any and all things thrown at us, right? When the comparisons start, we begin to feel like a failure.
So what should we do? Realize that this is normal for all moms. Who wouldn’t feel frustrated after a week of nights with puking kids or during a home school day in which any or all kids refused to cooperate to complete their homework. Don’t heap on guilt. Call another mom and commiserate. Laugh at yourself and give yourself and your kids a little grace, and pray. We are ALL works in progress. If all else fails, call me. I’ll hook you up with my mom. Not only will she tell you a few great stories, she’ll also tell you what a great job you are doing. It’s true. You are doing a great job. You ARE a good mom, and you are very normal!
