I teared up when I read my friend’s status update on Facebook yesterday…
knowing how much Miranda has struggled with her son’s sensory issues lately, knowing how much that small moment really meant to her.
Earlier this month, this same friend, on that same Facebook page, was called into question by someone for “complaining too much” about parenting… about her struggles with motherhood. Scrolling through her page, all I see is a real parent, facing real issues, handling them in a very real, very human way.
Unfortunately, that’s always going to come up, at some point, for each and every parent. There’s always going to be at least one moment, if not hundreds, where someone will witness you behaving like a human- not a superhero or a perfectly programmed robot- and they will question your parenting.
Why can’t you be grateful? Why can’t you get over it? Why can’t you make them listen? Why do you yell? Why don’t you yell? How could you make a mistake? How could you fail?
The moment you become entirely responsible for a child, no matter how it comes to pass, no matter how hard you did or didn’t have to work for it, it’s an amazing transformation. You become a parent.
But…
You do not stop being human.
It doesn’t matter what books you read or what parenting philosophies you align yourself with. Nothing takes away the human element of parenting.
Humans experience a full spectrum of emotions, often more than one at the same time. Humans get tired. Humans need help. Humans doubt. Humans stumble.
Humans fail.
And if you think people are quick to call parents out for “complaining,” they’re even quicker to completely write them off when they fail. The world is swimming in judgement for parents who are caught in very human moments.
Don’t assume because you see a parent fail that they are a failure as a parent. Don’t assume because YOU fail as a parent at times, that YOU are a failure.
Parenting is a HUMAN experience.
It’s not a stationary state of existence. Parenthood is not a place we check into and get programmed with all the answers the moment we become wholly responsible for that other life. It’s not a peak of a mountain where we can see above the fog.
Parenting is a continuous state of motion. It’s always growing, always learning, always changing, always diverging from paths to try new ones, always trying to balance. Parenting is a long, windy walk through the fog and around the mountain… over and over again.
Parenting is never about not struggling, it’s never about being perfect, it’s never about not failing. That would remove the human element from it.
And only humans could watch their child excel at swim lessons after months of struggles, and let that soften their heart enough to cry tears of happiness. Only a human gets to experience that joy.
Don’t deny yourself the joy that comes from the struggles. Don’t forget that parenting is a human experience.
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42 comments
New post- Parenting Is a Human Experience http://t.co/lV0wDGEmCR Inspired by @NotSuperJustMom
“Don’t deny yourself the joy that comes from the struggles. Don’t forget that parenting is a human experience.”… http://t.co/w4aaB1CN7V
RT @babyrabies: “Don’t deny yourself the joy that comes from the struggles. Don’t forget that parenting is a human experience.”… http: …
This is such an amazing post. And spot on. You made me tear up. Beautifully said.
RT @babyrabies: New post- Parenting Is a Human Experience http://t.co/lV0wDGEmCR Inspired by @NotSuperJustMom
Beautiful. I love this so much! >> Parenting Is a Human Experience http://t.co/22niEoZQhQ @babyrabies
RT @TheMomPledge: Beautiful. I love this so much! >> Parenting Is a Human Experience http://t.co/22niEoZQhQ @babyrabies
Annnnnnd I’m crying. This has been one of the hardest struggles I’ve ever faced and I often feel like I’m failing. Him. Emma. Dan. All of us. But then there are these little moments that erase all of those feelings. Thanks for this, friend.
Beautiful. I love this so much! >> Parenting Is a Human Experience http://t.co/Sl9utWAeqr @babyrabies
<3 you, Jill. RT @babyrabies New post- Parenting Is a Human Experience http://t.co/kcSrEPdMiV Inspired by @NotSuperJustMom
Parenting Is a Human Experience http://t.co/tscsgtB9NQ via @babyrabies
Love the last sentence you quoted in your fb post. This is so true. Great post!
What a great post! Parenting is a very human experience. No one is perfect, therefore we are all imperfect parents! If you love your children, take care of your children and spend time with your kids, you are doing a good job. It’s the hardest and not rewarding job we will ever have!
Oops! That should have been “most” not “not”. Oh well! Guess I failed to type it correctly. :0)
Yes, yes, and yes. I agree with this whole post. Wonderfully clarified.
Nicely worded!!
RT @TheMomPledge: Beautiful. I love this so much! >> Parenting Is a Human Experience http://t.co/22niEoZQhQ @babyrabies
amen! thank you for the beautiful post.
I needed this today! http://t.co/M64uG2Wk7i
I know I definitely feel like a failure as I stumble through this business that is parenting, Miranda is just brave enough to share it with the world and I’m glad she does! It helps to know I’m not alone. Thanks for standing up for all the imperfect moms out there.
I will cry with her for her joys and heartaches, my Joshua has an ASD, and I have been where she is cryin like a fool about such an epic accomplishment….and have done it in public…
thank you
Well said 🙂
As is always the case, this was amazingly well said.
As a parent with a child on the spectrum, thank you, very well said.
RT @babyrabies: New post- Parenting Is a Human Experience http://t.co/lV0wDGEmCR Inspired by @NotSuperJustMom
People don’t understand how monumental small accomplishments are for spectrum kids. Thank you for articulating.
RT @babyrabies: New post- Parenting Is a Human Experience http://t.co/lV0wDGEmCR Inspired by @NotSuperJustMom
Thank you @babyrabies for this. Wonderfully written. Definitely feeling a little teary now! http://t.co/zqA7IPD68H
Parenting Is a Human Experience (from @BabyRabies) http://t.co/U3CRoI2I2c ^FM
I feel so fortunate that in this walk I’m on, I’ve been blessed enough to surround myself by people who make an… http://t.co/hqCMPnMXSN
“Don’t assume because YOU fail as a parent at times, that YOU are a failure.” – @babyrabies http://t.co/Pu2tf6Ed2W
RT @d20Blonde: “Don’t assume because YOU fail as a parent at times, that YOU are a failure.” – @babyrabies http://t.co/Pu2tf6Ed2W
RT @d20Blonde: “Don’t assume because YOU fail as a parent at times, that YOU are a failure.” – @babyrabies http://t.co/Pu2tf6Ed2W
I had to shate this: Patenting is a human experience. #parenting… http://t.co/vmP7fn6Nlf
I had to share this beautifully written piece: Parenting is a human experience. #parenting… http://t.co/DlCUrK0iqW
RT @d20Blonde: “Don’t assume because YOU fail as a parent at times, that YOU are a failure.” – @babyrabies http://t.co/Pu2tf6Ed2W
An excellent reminder that parenting is a full contact sport emotionally. http://t.co/bgNiYpjPJy
I have only read your post today, but coincidentally wrote about a similar topic last night. A friend of mine responded to tell me she likes I defend complaining. I think you can call it complaining, or just honest communication. Yes, there are always people in the world that have it worse. That doesn’t mean one does not need support and an ear that would listen when struggling. I don’t know if this can help your friend, but if you think it might, let her know she’s not alone. http://cheerstothesecondtime.blogspot.com/2013/04/love-is-strange-thing.html
A must read! http://t.co/HFcOpn0auO
Love this. Just love it.
Parenting Is a Human Experience http://t.co/uoOAZIfPU4 – this is why I’m always saying “we are all in this together” #mommunistmanifesto