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Parenting
Hang In There, Mama! Things Will Get Better
by Emily Harris
Updated: Aug. 21, 2015
Originally Published: Aug. 14, 2015
If you’re nursing your newborn and your nipples feel like they’ve been through a meat grinder—something no one prepped you for—and it’s almost time for another feeding, hang in there. I promise, it will get better.
If your little one isn’t sleeping through the night and you’re starting to question whether you might just collapse from sheer exhaustion, trust me, it will improve. I promise.
If every single request to your 2-year-old is met with a resounding NO!, it’s a tough phase, but it will eventually get better. Maybe not until she’s five or six, but I promise, it will.
If you’ve enrolled your kid in basketball but he’s too scared to even step onto the court, don’t worry—this too shall pass. I promise.
If preschool is just around the corner and your kid can pee like a champion but insists on hiding in the closet or behind the couch for a poop, fear not. One day, when you least expect it, he’ll surprise you by using the potty. I promise.
If you’ve had to replace multiple toilets because of a Duplo block or an action figure taking a permanent vacation down the drain, hang tight. It will get better. I promise.
If your little one gets carsick and you’ve got an emergency kit of clothes and towels at the ready every time you drive, it will improve. Eventually, your kid will let you know when they need to pull over for a quick puke break. I promise.
If your 7, 8, or 9-year-old suddenly starts wetting the bed out of the blue, remember—it’s just a phase. It will pass. I promise.
If you’ve given up on trampolines because even a light breeze sends you running for the bathroom, well, that might not get better unless you decide on surgery. But you’re certainly not alone. I promise.
If your kid dissolves in tears the moment you drop them off at the gym daycare and you find yourself getting pulled off the treadmill ten minutes in, keep going. It will get better. I promise.
If you’ve sworn off beach trips because your child immediately dives into the ocean and eats sand like it’s candy, one day you’ll actually get to relax with a book while they play safely. I promise.
If your child’s favorite pastime is splashing in the toilet or the dog’s water bowl, don’t worry—he will find more age-appropriate toys soon. I promise.
If the pool has become a battleground where you’re constantly chasing your 18-month-old to prevent a dive into the deep end, hold on. It will get better. I promise.
If a trip to the playground means you’re on swing-pushing duty or hovering at the slide to prevent a disaster, someday you’ll be able to sit back and just enjoy watching her play. I promise.
If your 3-year-old decides to chop off a chunk of her hair right before family picture day, you might cry at first, but one day you’ll look back and chuckle about it. I promise.
If your son decides to comment on a stranger’s appearance in the grocery store, that feeling of embarrassment will fade, and you’ll eventually laugh it off. I promise.
One day, you’ll look back on all these moments, and they won’t seem so bad. Because soon, your kids will be teenagers, and you’ll wish for the days of diaper disasters and LEGO-flushing. I promise.
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Summary
Parenting can be tough, with challenges ranging from breastfeeding pain to toddler tantrums and everything in between. But remember, these phases are temporary. Just hang in there, and it will get better.