Parenthood

Parenthood is not what I expected. Honestly, I should have known better. When books, TV, and the old lady you sit next to in church tell you is wonderful and life-changing, but the mom of 3 next door looks haggard and worn, a big red flag should be seen, complete with flashing lights. It's life- changing alright, but not always so wonderful. This is not to imply that children are terrible creatures (at least, not all of the time), but they are NOT the little angels they are made out to be. I tend to see children as wild tigers. Beautiful and fearsome, all at once. Definitely forces with whom to be reckoned. Now, if this was the concept broadcast to all bright- eyed couples wanting a baby, I have a feeling that birth control sales would skyrocket and our population would be greatly diminished. I have seen many soon-to-be parents smile smugly as they proclaim that THEIR child would never behave as disgracefully as the child in the grocery store throwing a tantrum in the cereal aisle or check out lane (it's always those two places, isn't it?). These soon-to-be moms and dads truly believe that THEIR child is a piece of precious clay, ready to be molded to the parents' idea of perfection. What a wonderful, comforting idea. I liken it to the idea of a cheesecake that makes you lose weight. Nice to think about, but never gonna happen. But these parents are so happy believing that their child will be different, so why spoil it for them? They're not hurting anyone with their self-deceit, and their belief that their child will be perfect helps the sleepless night seem more bearable. They will find out in time. And when the shrouds of unrealistic preconceptions fall, there will be enough good memories of sweet squishy babies to prevent them from duct taping their "angel" to the wall (hopefully).

If you are already a parent and know exactly what I'm talking about, then you might have realized that, on those difficult days, reading about someone else's parenting woes can lighten your own. I'm here to help with that. I'm a stay at home mother of four, and every day seems to bring a new disaster. These disasters are usually at the hands of my third child, Abby. While I've compared most children to tigers, she's something else entirely. Pretty as a sunset, quick as lightning, smart at Einstein, and destructive as a typhoon. She will undoubtedly star in most if my stories.

Welcome to my life. Cringe at my tales, laugh at my expense, and empathize when you've been unfortunate enough to experience the same disasters as I have. Above all, enjoy yourself. Because as you've focused on reading this, one of your children has taken the opportunity to wreak havoc. Never a dull moment, huh?