No matter
how many books you read or words of advice you receive parenthood is a just one
of those things that you learn as you go. Sure we have more knowledge than
people did years ago but there are just some things that books and websites can’t
teach you.
Parenting
experts can try to teach you all about sleep schedules and adequate tummy time.
They can try to teach you about your toddler, your child, your pre-teen, your
teenager and on and on and on. Much like life though, parenthood is best
learned by doing it.
In the
almost six years that I have been a mother I have learned so many things. It
amazes me daily that I have these two beautiful, energetic boys who my husband
and I made. In that short time I have
learned:
Love is
endless.
Patience is
not.
Worry comes
with the job.
It does not
however, fix things.
Children are
individuals and no two are alike.
Children
will change you forever in the best ways.
You will be
tested in ways you never quite thought possible.
No matter
what else comes your way in life they will remain your biggest success and your
proudest moments.
You will
drop everything for them.
You will put
them first.
You will
sometimes miss who you once were.
You will
love your spouse in a way that is so different than you did before they
arrived.
You will
cry.
You will
laugh.
You will
doubt yourself.
You will lean
on your friends.
You will
talk about poop. You will.
You will
hurt for them.
You will try
to fix things.
You will love
them.
They will
love you.
Parenting is
overwhelming, all encompassing, hard as hell and beautiful. It often requires
tears, wine, friends, and more wine but in the end the journey is about love.
The rest of the stuff is just that…stuff. If there is one thing I have learned it's to embrace it. Embrace the mayhem. Embrace the silliness. Embrace the mess. One day the kids who are making the mess, giving you gray hair, making you laugh, cuddling with you and talking non stop will be grown and you will be left trying to write a book about the things you learned along the way.
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