Pride

I am just going to come out and say it: I am proud of myself. Pride is not a word I often use. Disappointment, shame, regret…these words I have become all too familiar with. But, after thinking long and hard about the last 4 years of my life I finally realize that I have done a good job. The best job? No. The best job I could do plus some under the given circumstances? I can confidently say yes. I am also going to come out and say this: I am a good mother. Have I laid awake at night questioning this over and over? Yes. Have I had really bad moments and days where I lost my cool and just utterly gave up? Absolutely. But what constitutes a good parent? Is it utter perfection every day with a smile on your face? Is it knowing exactly how to appropriately discipline your child the first try? Is it baking cookies and loving every moment of your spawn’s existence? Or is it making mistake after mistake, learning from each one, and growing as a person and as a parent every day? I believe the latter is true. This is a difficult life. And being a parent is the most intense, confusing, and downright maddening job you can undertake. But…and not to be too cliche here…it is the most rewarding and magical and meaningful as well. So parents out there: take pride. Look over your parenting career and take it all in; the good and the bad. Look at the joys and the many mistakes. Look at the late nights, the lack of sleep, the first amazing and tiring moments, the holidays, the laughter, the puke, the shit, and everything in between. Give yourselves a hug, get up tomorrow, and do the best job you can. You are amazing. *disclaimer: if you beat or degrade your kids this does not apply to you.