Last week, I found myself retreating to my bedroom in the middle of the afternoon. The day had transformed into a chaotic whirlwind of complaints, sibling squabbles, and countless time-outs. The details aren’t crucial because, let’s face it, we’ve all experienced those days. Parenting, right? It was just the culmination of a long, draining week. So, I tucked myself away and started binge-watching my favorite show.
Our family has been navigating some significant growing pains lately—everyone is feeling it, and sometimes a little escape into solitude is necessary.
This is what parenting looks like, doesn’t it? It’s not always picture-perfect or simple. It’s certainly not filled with constant joy and sparkles.
Parenting involves sleepless nights that leave you looking like you’ve just returned from a two-week vacation with no sleep. It’s messy hair thrown into a bun and raccoon eyes from crying in the bathroom at some point during the day. It’s about feeling lost and second-guessing yourself more often than not. It’s about making tough choices and having difficult conversations. It’s about hiding away just to sip coffee and watch your go-to show.
However, I’ve noticed a tendency among parents to accompany our #realtalk with a sprinkle of #soblessed. Why is that necessary? Why must we justify our feelings? Why do we feel compelled to apologize for our honesty? Why can’t we accept that parenting—and life—is a beautifully chaotic mixture of ups and downs?
As parents and human beings, we can experience multiple emotions simultaneously. It’s entirely possible to feel both gratitude and frustration at the same time. We can love our children with every fiber of our being while also feeling overwhelmed by the incessant whining and having to ask them to pick up their socks for the hundredth time. We can cherish what we have while also longing for someone else’s seemingly perfect life. It’s even okay to love those around us while craving solitude on a deserted island sometimes—because let’s be honest, people can be a bit much.
We are human. Life and parenting are messy and complex. We need to stop apologizing for feeling “negative” emotions as if they negate our positive ones. I love my children dearly, but there are days they drive me absolutely nuts. I cherish my job, yet some moments leave me wanting to toss my laptop out the window (usually spurred by an unkind internet comment). I am dedicated and grateful for the causes I support, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel overwhelmed now and then. Life can be a storm of stress, and that’s just part of being human.
Parenting may not always be flawless, but it is undeniably beautiful. While I took my moment to unwind and laugh at my favorite show, I could hear my kids giggling together downstairs—only to be followed by the inevitable squabbling. That’s what family is about: laughter, arguments, and more laughter. Cycle through, rinse, and repeat.
I often hear others justifying their frustration or annoyance with a “but I love my kids” or an apology for feeling anything less than #soblessed. We don’t owe anyone an explanation. Life isn’t always rainbows and butterflies, and pretending it is doesn’t help anyone. We all know you love your kids; that’s a given. It’s time we stop feeling guilty for experiencing a range of emotions—complicated, messy, and real. The human experience is a wild, intricate tapestry, and we shouldn’t apologize for being authentically human.
No one claimed that parenting or life would be easy, but it is indeed rewarding. When things become challenging, sometimes you just need to take a breather in your bedroom (even if it’s just for a moment) and then carry on.
For more insights into the journey of parenthood, check out this excellent resource on home insemination.
Summary
Parenting is a blend of love, frustration, and chaos. It’s essential to recognize that feeling overwhelmed or annoyed doesn’t mean you love your children any less. Embracing the full spectrum of emotions is part of the human experience, and we shouldn’t feel pressured to justify our feelings. Life may not always be perfect, but it remains beautifully rewarding.