Parenting Perfection

As a parent we've all been at the point where we'd like to pull our hair out from stress. The world we live in doesn't make being a parent any easier either. Between our own pressure of wanting our children to grow up with a life better than we did and the pressure to show others that we have it all under control, it's a wonder that more parents don't crack under the pressure.

Or maybe they do and I don't see it.

I really do think that my life was pretty well in control after Lane was born. Granted that could be because he was the.best.baby.ever. Not much fussing, ate fantastic and loved playing by himself. Fast forward to present day and I am pretty sure there's no possible way for anything else to be out of whack!

There are probably some parents that didn't feel a huge difference adding child #2 but I sure did. No way was I prepared for it either. As said before, the child mannerism could be a part of it. Evelyn is very high maintenance, hates being by herself at any point during the day, and has already had more sickness than most of my friends' children.

I remember one person telling me 'adding child 2 is a huge change but adding any more subsequent ones? Pieces of cake by then.' Otherwise not a single other person mentioned that fact. Maybe they did and I was oblivious to the dire message coming my direction.

Take head friends. ADDING KID 2 WILL TAKE IT'S TOLL ON YOUR SANITY (waistline, pocketbook, relationships, work, etc.)!!! If you ask me if we'll have a 3rd I will laugh at you and probably go home to cry while thinking 'I want one more but it might kill me'.

Within the last couple weeks I've been lucky to have conversations with a dear friend as well as my own mom. Where else to look for some advice than a single mom of 3 who works full time and a pretty special lady who raised 4 kids of her own. They listened as everything I have been struggling with came pouring out.

How will I ever finish a project off of the devil Pinterest, plan the best birthday parties, come up with fun Elf on the Shelf ideas, blah blah blah? So maybe some topics were deeper than that such as paying off debt, keeping a house semi-clean and going to work all while trying to save face to keep my husband and children happy!

 

At any rate, whether my stresses are superficial or more serious matters, my two conversations both had the same final message. Just let it go. Don't compare yourself to another family because you have no idea what is going on with them, their mom is probably ready to crack too. Choose 1 goal to accomplish. Quit thinking of things to change in your life and enjoy it!

 

Oh and Pinterest, Elf on the Shelf and over the top birthday parties are evil. I swear they are out to make me feel inadequate but guess who's probably buying an Elf on the Shelf this year?