4 Years.
I have been a mother for 4 years, on July 2nd, 2016. What a crazy, hard, exciting, non-stop, chaotic, blessed, amazing 4 years it has been..
I know it may not seem like a lot to seasoned parents, but I (we) have been through A LOT in those four years, especially the first few days of it. But I will save that for a future potential post.. Maybe..
4 Lessons I learned in 4 years of Parenting.
1. Stop Comparing.
Stop comparing yourself to other parents, stop comparing your spouse/significant other to other parents, and especially stop comparing your child/ren to other children. Everyone is doing the best they can, and the grass is NEVER greener on the other side.
2. Take it ONE DAY AT A TIME, and every single day is a blessing.
Parenting is rough, daunting, overwhelming, and some days are DEFINATELY rougher than others.
Start every day with a new slate, and re-evaluate the left over to-do list from the day before. Some people would give anything and everything to be in the position you are in. In the words of the country song, “It wont be like this for long.”
3. You only have control over so much.
Returning emails and texts, you have control over. The flu bug, the weather, when or where your child has their next melt-down, you don’t have control over.
4. EVERY child is different.
I never really understood this until my second child was born, a boy. He is a polar opposite from my daughter in EVERY way imaginable. Their differences are what makes them special in their own way, it needs to be embraced, not condemned.
tahneerose says
atOh I needed to read this today! thank you so much for your post!
rachealackermann says
atThank you & You are welcome 🙂 Have a great Monday & Week.
theseordinarygraces says
atAgree with all of them! It’s a constant struggle to remember that the grass isn’t necessarily greener somewhere else.
Karin Rambo says
at#3 is so good! That’s been hard for me to learn because I’m definitely a control freak!
Rebekah @ Surviving Toddlerhood says
atIt’s amazing to me just how different my boys are. I know they are that way for a reason, but sometimes I just wonder why they can’t all be the same. 🙂
Robin Russell says
atGreat reminders, parenting is definitely easier when we remember to not compare our families. Thanks for the encouragement!
Val - Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids says
atI love your tip of taking each day one at a time. Whatever happened yesterday is the past. You can have a fresh start, with newly rested kids (hopefully), each morning.
rachealackermann says
atWORD. This was definitely one of the most helpful lessons for me as a parents, because lets be honest somedays are better than others. :/
Amy Lu says
atThese are great reminders. I agree about every child being different. It’s funny how having a second child really puts that into perspective as a parent.
aboyandhismom1 says
atEvery point is so true! Not comparing is so important. It will drive you crazy otherwise.
painting_arrows says
atThese are 4 great lessons!! Thank you for sharing!!