Parenting can be a wild ride, and I recently found myself crying over a cup of spilled milk. Yes, it’s true! It was the third liquid disaster of the day, and honestly, I’d lost count of the total spills. We’re talking about everything from the Cheerios explosion to crayons being used as makeshift art tools on a sibling’s school book, my entire purse emptied out, and even a container of pricey organic yogurt meeting its untimely demise. Let’s not forget the toothpaste debacle — how is it that with all our modern advancements, a childproof toothpaste tube doesn’t exist? Seriously!
You get my drift. I shed tears over that spilled milk because if I didn’t, I felt like I would completely lose my grip on sanity. These parenting mishaps didn’t occur because I’m new to the game. With four kids and over ten years of experience, I should be an old pro by now. But let’s face it: some days (or weeks, or even months) just throw you for a loop.
My partner, Jake, is a fantastic dad and an amazing support system. The catch? He’s often at work, leaving me to manage this chaotic circus solo. Instead of being the ringmaster, I felt more like a clumsy clown darting from one catastrophe to another.
Now, don’t get me wrong — I adore being a mom. Our kids are generally great, even with their overly enthusiastic toothpaste usage, and we have our share of delightful moments. But somewhere along the way, I lost sight of the bigger picture of parenting. Let me break it down for you.
From the moment they’re born, we parents feel this intense urge to protect and nurture our children. They learn to rely on us for comfort, food, guidance, and support. Before you know it, you’re so enmeshed in the day-to-day grind that you forget your ultimate goal: preparing them for a happy, successful life. And in that process, we often end up doing everything for them because, let’s be honest, we can do it faster and don’t want to see them struggle.
Caught up in the minutiae of daily life (Do you need a jacket? Thanks for handing me that booger! Let’s brush your hair. Enough with the fights!), I completely lost sight of the big picture until that fateful day when milk hit the floor. As I cried, I noticed my two older kids staring at me with concern.
Then something remarkable happened. My 6-year-old dashed over to grab paper towels and started cleaning up the mess. Soon, my 4-year-old joined in too. Sure, the clean-up wasn’t perfect, but who cares? It was a wake-up call. I realized that instead of rushing to be super mom and swooping in every time they needed help, I should step back and empower them to tackle their own challenges.
Now, when spills happen — whether it’s milk or Cheerios — I encourage them to clean it up themselves. Yes, I may have to follow up to do a thorough job, but it’s so much quicker this way!
When squabbles arise, I don’t always jump in shouting to be heard. Instead, I hold up two fingers, giving them two minutes to work it out amongst themselves. If they can’t, they’ll face Judge Mom’s ruling, which usually involves a ban on screen time. They’re becoming little diplomats in the process!
And if I ever discover mysterious brown smudges on the bathroom wall, I don’t freak out like I used to. As a seasoned parent, I check for Nutella first and decide to let them tackle the clean-up while I go wash clothes — again.
If they want a packed lunch for school, they’re responsible for making it themselves. Spoiler alert: 6-year-olds can assemble sandwiches if you set up the supplies within reach. Of course, I still help with fruit prep and ensure they’re not just loading their lunchboxes with Oreos and animal crackers.
Finally, when they genuinely need me, I’ll always be there for the big stuff — like scaring away closet monsters at bedtime. As for the toothpaste mess? Well, it might trigger a mini-meltdown and some serious chocolate stress-eating, but I’m learning to embrace the chaos while keeping my eyes on the bigger picture. I plan to savor nearly every moment of this wild parenting journey.
For more insights on navigating parenthood, check out our other blog post here. You can also find excellent resources on pregnancy and home insemination at sites like Kindbody.
In summary, while the daily challenges of parenting can be overwhelming, it’s essential to keep the big picture in mind. By allowing children to take on responsibilities and learn from their mistakes, we help prepare them for a successful future.