20 Things I No Longer Care About as a Parent

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As a parent, it often feels like I’m running on fumes. My time and energy are constantly drained, and it seems like every month my bank account takes a hit from summer camps, dentist visits, and the occasional lost library book. And let’s not even talk about sleep—I think about it more than I actually get it.

There’s just never enough of anything—time, energy, money, or sleep. The same goes for the emotional bandwidth we have; there are only so many cares one can afford to give. Our children naturally consume a significant portion of that, which means we must be selective about what else we choose to invest our energy in. If we don’t manage our emotional resources wisely, we might find ourselves overwhelmed, perhaps even sobbing in a bathroom stall after a long day (or is that just me?).

Every now and then, it’s essential to reevaluate what truly deserves our attention. Here’s a list of 20 things I’ve decided to stop worrying about:

1. My kid’s selective eating habits. After spending what feels like hours preparing a well-balanced meal (complete with dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets, of course), I refuse to waste my energy on whether my child eats their veggies or not.
2. Post-dinner snack requests. If my son claims he’s ‘starving’ a minute after dinner, I might just offer him another carrot.
3. Social media snapshots. Those beautiful family photos? I know the reality behind them—chaos just moments before. Still, I’ll happily like your edited masterpiece while knowing the truth. #momlife
4. All forms of nonsense. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes life is too short for any kind of bullshit.
5. Screen time guilt. Yes, I know I should limit electronics, but sometimes I just need to let loose and enjoy some downtime with a good binge-watch.
6. Constant niceness. There’s a fine line between being nice and being kind. Sometimes, being kind means ditching the facade of niceness and taking charge.
7. Kid fashion choices. If my children can manage to dress themselves in something relatively clean, I’m satisfied. I’d rather save my energy for the nightly teeth-brushing battle.
8. My own wardrobe. Some days I’m in trendy clothes, and other days I’m in sweatpants. Whatever I wear will likely end up covered in kid-related messes anyway.
9. Fear of missing out (FOMO). Parents inevitably miss out on social events, but who cares? Most of my friends are probably home by 10 PM, just like me.
10. Body image concerns. I’m at an age where wrinkles and cellulite are a reality. And that’s perfectly okay.
11. My home’s appearance. With pets and kids, it’s impossible to maintain that pristine, magazine-worthy look. “This is why we can’t have nice things” is my mantra.
12. Keeping up with trends. Whether it’s fashion or slang, I’m often out of the loop. I recently Googled “bae” and still don’t get it. But I know what IDGAF means.
13. Ditching friends for a night in. Sometimes, there’s nothing better than a cozy night at home in my pajamas.
14. Taking time for myself. A night out without the kids is essential for my sanity, even if it means shaking my hips to loud music.
15. Over-scheduling my kids. A little boredom fosters creativity. Albert Einstein should have said that boredom leads to brilliant ideas because it’s true!
16. Getting everything done. Sometimes, it’s okay to toss the to-do list aside and indulge in a nap or some cookies.
17. Different parenting styles. Everyone has an opinion on parenting, but I’ve learned to tune out most of the noise. It’s all just opinions, after all.
18. Comparing myself to others. I’ve spent too long measuring my worth against others and their highlight reels. Perfection is a myth.
19. Worrying about my children’s achievements. It takes a ton of effort to be extraordinary, and honestly, I’d prefer to focus on raising kind and decent humans rather than striving for perfection.
20. Having it all together. I once believed adults had everything figured out, but I now see we’re all just winging it.

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In summary, it’s important to prioritize what truly matters and let go of the small stuff that doesn’t serve us. Embrace the chaos and focus on raising happy, kind individuals while finding joy in the imperfect journey of parenthood.