People gross me out. I can sling manure with ease, but you have me sit in a chair someone coughing just sat in and I will freak. Somehow though, when it comes to my own children, the grossness has no hold on me. I’m sure many of you out there can agree – it’s totally different when it’s your own kid.

Here is a list of 4 totally gross parenting accomplishments that are beyond satisfying:

#1 Picking a booger from a baby’s nose

The squirmy wriggles. The crying fits. The hand swats. It’s like doing laser beam gymnastics to get to the glass-cased diamond. You saw it. You retrieved it. You earned that super sticky ball a top of your pinky finger. Tom Cruise got nothing on this Momma.

#2 Potty training success

I’ll be honest, when any Facebook friends start posting anything about potty training, I unfollow them for an extended amount of time. To constantly see the words “pee” and “poop” blowing up my newsfeed grosses me right out. Truly. Yet, having gone through it myself now I must say… I get it. I COMPLETELY get it. It was hard enough not to spray paint any type of success or failure all over every bridge, train, shed, or back alleyway in town let alone a measly Facebook status. Until you’ve gone through it with your own children, you don’t get it. It’s a huge deal. It’s tears and frustration with bursts of cheering your heart out of its chest. And when you’re finally for real’s out of the woods, you feel like you could climb Mt. Everest like, tomorrow.

It’s a huge deal. It’s tears and frustration with bursts of cheering your heart out of its chest. And when you’re finally for real’s out of the woods, you feel like you could climb Mt. Everest like, tomorrow.

#3 Elimination after constipation

It’s been days. You see glimpses of the pain in their sweet little eyes. Google searches and diet hypotheses have been placed in trial testing. And then, success! The relieved look on their face matches your heart. It’s like a seeing through a science experiment that gave the perfect desired outcome.

#4 Cleaning up vomit

It’s the middle of the night and a yell for Mommy (or Daddy) props you right up out of bed. You rush to their bedroom and see you sweet child terrified, tired, and so so sad. Vomit is all over their blankets and pillows. And them. As grossed out as you are, it’s swallowed up in the adrenaline in doing everything and anything to make them feel better. You wipe them up, throw the blanketed bundle in the wash, and put on new fresh bedding. Crackers and ginger ale are offered and taken. You lay with them. And as they snuggle into you, without saying a word, you can just feel their gratitude as they quickly drift back to sleep. You’re worrying starts to lessen, and you know you did good.

If you have accomplished any of these, congratulations you awesome parents! Your crown has been sent away for sizing.