“Your kids are so beautiful!” “Your kids are so well behaved!” Your kids are so funny.”
These are a few things I hear when people first meet my precious children: how perfect, beautiful, and well behaved they are. People always comment how sweet it is my daughter says “excuse me” when walking too close to someone. I hear strangers “awwwww” when Rylee runs up to me batting her bright beautiful blue eyes asking for a toy saying please which is often followed up with “But I LOVE you SOOO much.”
Yes, these moments are wonderful; And yes, I do teach my children to respect others and be polite.
What people don’t know (what I didn’t realize till being a parent) is these behaviors are all for show to the public eye.
They don’t see the streaks of color drawn into my kitchen chair only an hour prior. They don’t see my daughters tantrum because I wouldn’t let her eat a bag of gummy bears for breakfast. They didn’t see my son sneak away to fit a whole roll of toilet paper, a handful of toys, a soda can, and my toothbrush down the toilet…and then proceeded to flush it.
Oh or the time Rylee took paint and went Leonardo Da Vinci on our dogs backside! No animals were harmed as it was safe paint and non toxic, even so, Luna did not approve.
Being a parent isn’t just hard, it’s exhausting, and anyone claiming otherwise is lying. Even though you can’t wait to lie down at the end of the night for a moments rest, the truth is you end up missing your children the second they are away from you. You learn exhaustion is the new lifestyle and your kids will stretch you as thin as they can. You sit on the couch with a glass of wine taking a deep breath, finally able to put your feet up, and somehow you’re able to get up the next day and do it all over again. It really is worth it.
Parenthood is more than a full time job, it’s more like time and a half, because it takes more time than you have. Once you receive that title you are and will always be a parent. It is the one thing you can’t quit, you can’t take sick days, and you can’t take back. Be honest, who would want too.
It’s the “firsts” that really take your breathe away reminding you why you wanted to be a parent in the first place. It’s the giggles that make you forget the screaming nights of a newborn. It’s the tiny hand wrapped around your finger that helps you forgive being peed on. It’s the moment your child needs comfort after a fall, and they FINALLY choose you over daddy.
If your blessed with more than one child then you get even more firsts. There is nothing more heart swelling then seeing your oldest teach your youngest how to use a fork, or how to walk, how to talk, or my personal favorite when they snuggle together watching a movie holding hands.
My kids love me through my mess ups, my faults, my lazy days, my easily irritated days, and most of all my fun days. You think as a parent you are in control and you are the teacher, but I have found my kids have taught me just as much if not more.
My children have (forcibly) taught me patience, understanding, how to listen, how to be creative with dirt and rocks, to use my imagination, and most of all how to forgive not only them but myself. Although I am not perfect, I stopped trying to be a long time ago.. My children don’t need perfect, they just need me to be me. 🙂
Alexandra Masha 