Dear Parents,
I want to extend my sincerest apologies.
For every moment I dismissed the challenges of parenting, saying things like, “Little kids, little problems; big kids, big problems.”
For those times I reassured a parent eagerly waiting for their baby to crawl, only to say, “It’s tougher when they’re mobile.”
For instances when I spoke to a parent longing to hear their child’s first words, saying, “I wish I didn’t have to hear ‘Mom-Mom-Mom’ a thousand times a day.”
For every time I told a sleep-deprived parent, “Just wait until they can climb out of their toddler bed.”
For moments I remarked to a weary potty-training parent, “I wish we could go back to diapers.”
For each time I told a kindergarten parent with a clingy child, “I wish my issues were as simple as a nap.”
For all the times I unintentionally belittled someone’s struggles instead of offering the support they truly needed, I am deeply sorry.
Because that’s not how we should uplift each other.
This photograph of my daughter, Lily, captured when she was just a month old, reminds me of how small she was. Yet, during those days, the challenges felt monumental. Each time someone told me that parenting would only get tougher, a part of me felt crushed.
Recently, I was in a group discussion when someone bravely shared their parenting dilemmas. Everyone nodded in understanding, while some shared their similar experiences, offered advice, or simply provided reassurance that it would get better. Others even volunteered to help. That’s the essence of true support.
With this in mind, I implore you to abandon the mindset of “little kids, little problems; big kids, big problems.” Let’s stop downplaying each other’s struggles simply because we have navigated through them. Let’s refrain from comparing our hardships or, worse, suggesting that someone else is approaching their challenges in the wrong way. Parenting is tough enough without adding that burden.
Being a parent can be incredibly challenging—joyful, too, but immensely tough. Some days can feel like absolute chaos, and others might even involve literal messes. So let’s band together to weather these storms, offering each other a listening ear, encouragement, and genuine support.
I have experienced the intricacies of raising both little ones and bigger kids—and soon, I’ll face the teenage years. Although the future is uncertain, what I do know is that sometimes small kid issues felt just as significant as the bigger ones. Hard is hard, and good is good; it’s all relative.
No matter if your kids are young or on the verge of adulthood, my wish for you is simple: may your days be filled with the good stuff and light on the hard.
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Summary:
This article serves as both an apology to fellow parents for diminishing their struggles and a call to action to foster genuine support among each other. It emphasizes the importance of understanding that every stage of parenting has its challenges, regardless of the child’s age. Together, we should uplift one another and navigate the complexities of parenting with empathy and shared experiences.