Recently, my partner kept messaging me, “on my way,” “almost home,” “just waiting for the bus,” and it was nearly 7:00 PM when he finally walked through the door. I’m not sure if it was exhaustion, the kids’ restlessness, or maybe even a full moon, but by the time he arrived, I was ready to escape.
I often find myself at the end of my patience. Life with young children swings from delightful and inspiring one moment to chaotic and overwhelming the next. My emotional highs are often followed by sudden lows, all within a single tick of the clock.
Just the other day, I saw my children playing on the top bunk of my son’s room. They were cuddled up with pillows, stuffed animals, and blankets, giggling like a couple of playful puppies. My son had his little sister in fits of laughter, and she was teasing him back with sweet tickles; it was a beautiful display of sibling love. In that moment, I felt a wave of pride and warmth, fully appreciating the wonderful kids I am raising. Everything felt perfect.
But just as quickly, the scene shifted. As I turned away to brush my teeth, their laughter morphed into screams. Giggles transformed into cries. The warm snuggles turned into shoves and grabs. Toys were sent flying across the room. My heart raced, and my blood boiled as I rushed in to separate them before someone fell off the bunk. Both kids were in tears, and in their world, it was catastrophic. I found myself wishing I could just give up.
Growing up, I had a habit of quitting anything I didn’t excel at. I stepped away from competitive swimming, gymnastics, ringette, and art classes after just a few years. My mindset was very black and white: I pursued things that came easily and avoided challenges. That perspective worked fine when it was just me, and even with my partner, for the most part.
However, the months and years following the birth of my children were the most challenging of my life. I’m still not sure how I survived the relentless sleep deprivation. The fierce love I felt for my son and daughter taught me that just because something is incredibly tough doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. The beautiful children I carried, nurtured, and sometimes cried alongside are my greatest treasures.
I’ve come to understand that feeling like quitting is entirely normal; anyone who claims parenting is flawless bliss is simply not being honest. Raising infants and toddlers is akin to riding an unending ferris wheel. And unfortunately, there’s no smiling operator at the bottom to let you off when you need a breather.
All we can do is cherish those exhilarating highs and fleeting perfect moments. We should breathe them in deeply and capture plenty of photos. Let’s snuggle up against our son’s warm cheeks, trace the dimples on our daughter’s face, and hold her tiny feet in our hands.
We need to freeze these idyllic moments in our minds to revisit during those chaotic times when everyone is crying, and we’re slogging through a dreary day, with the ferris wheel scraping the bottom once again. For more insights on navigating the complexities of parenthood, check out this post on parental struggles.
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Summary
Parenting is a challenging yet rewarding journey, filled with emotional highs and lows. It’s essential to treasure the joyful moments while navigating the chaos that often accompanies raising young children.
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