Parenting Lows and Highs

If you’re struggling to be a parent, then you’re not alone. Being a parent can be extremely depressing at times. There will be days and weeks where you feel like you’re not doing a good job, or that you absolutely don’t want to do it anymore. You’ll be ready to give up, and throw your hands in the air. Every parent that I know has gone through these feelings.

Even as your child gets older, there will be times that being a parent feels like one of the worst jobs in the world. It’s hard work trying to teach children, and it’s a huge sacrifice that you’ve made to do it. Your time is limited, and your money is spent towards many things for your child.

I’m not trying to scare future parents away, and I’m not trying to say that you shouldn’t be a parent. I’m trying to give an honest and fair perspective of what many people face as they raise their children. Don’t expect every day to be as easy as they make it look on TV and in the movies. There is a lot of work to be done.

The question that you may have then is why you don’t hear about all of the bad things. If you ask someone who is a parent whether or not it’s worth being a parent, what do you think the response will be? You’re likely not going to hear a resounding no. Based on what I’ve stated so far about the feelings you’ll have as a parent, that doesn’t seem to make sense. What a parent will likely tell you is that parenting is definitely not for everyone, and you have to decide for yourself. But the highs of parenting will generally outweigh the negatives.

Your kids can make you as angry as you’ve ever been in your life, and in five minutes, they can have you in tears of joy from something they’ve done. A hug from your child, learning a new word, or conquering a new challenge at school will have you as the proudest person around. It’s these types of moments that make being a parent such an awesome experience.

Your child will begin to learn new things. They will start to become their own person. Many times this can be frustrating and scary. They may not do what you tell them, or do things the way that you want. However, seeing your child grow, learn to make correct decisions, and relying on the things you’ve taught them makes those nearly impossible times worth it.

If you have younger children, a hug at the end of the day, snuggling with them at story time, or enjoying a snack with your child are all that you need to make a bad day, or hard week melt away. Seeing your child’s joy at a new toy, or a dessert, or whatever it may be can help you forget the stress of trying to potty train your child. The highs of being a parent can easily outweigh the lows.

Being a parent will not be easy. You’re learning to be a parent as you go, and you’re learning who your child is. Finding time to relish the highs of parenthood will help to keep your emotional strength high, and make being a parent worth it.