They say that true character shines through in times of crisis. If that’s the case, I must admit that I’m struggling in the parenting department.
One Sunday morning, I stepped into our hallway and found a puddle on our freshly refinished wood floors. Upon opening the bathroom door, I discovered my son had turned the toilet into a mini geyser. (And they say women use too much toilet paper!)
If this particular disaster exposed my true self, I can only describe it as a stressed-out, foul-mouthed mom who absolutely hates dealing with anything remotely resembling a mess. I wish I could say I calmly searched for the plunger (which, by the way, we didn’t even have) and encouraged my kids to help me out.
But I didn’t act calmly at all.
Instead, I yelled. I barked for them to fetch me towels—towels that just happened to be in the middle of a wash cycle. I unleashed a barrage of words that I’m pretty sure caught my kids off guard. Honestly, I didn’t even know I could say some of those things!
On my way to the store to buy a plunger, I texted my partner at work: “One of the kids overflowed the toilet again. Can’t find the plunger. Headed to the store.”
His reply? LOL.
I chose not to respond because I didn’t find the situation funny at all. No need to escalate things with sarcasm and reveal any more flaws. My mom always taught me that if you can’t say something nice, it’s better to stay quiet. So, I kept my mouth shut.
After I finally fixed the toilet and cleaned up the mess, we somehow made it to church right on time. To anyone watching, we appeared composed. No one knew about the bathroom disaster. But deep down, I felt like I was failing.
Once the service ended, a kind gentleman approached me and complimented my kids, saying their behavior reflected great parenting. As he walked away, I watched my children playing and smiling, and all I could do was cry.
In my moment of perceived failure, someone else recognized the fruits of my labor. Parenting isn’t about perfection. Some days it feels like I’m just treading water. The beauty lies in the fact that every day offers a new chance to do better. Sometimes our biggest failures can turn into teachable moments, even if it means sharing our own struggles. If we always believed we were nailing this parenting gig, we might not be fully embracing our roles.
Parenting can be tough, and yes, it can be downright frustrating; but that doesn’t define who you are.
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In summary, even the best parents have moments of struggle and frustration. It’s these experiences that help us grow and learn, both as individuals and as parents.