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I Write about Parenting but Still Struggle

Written by Melissa Robertson

Parenting isn’t for wimps, especially when you are trying to be an ‘expert’ on the subject. One writer shares her parenting struggles.

Kids don’t come with instructions, but there are about a million blogs you can read on the subject. I should know, I have written over 100 on the subject alone and yet when it comes to being a ‘good parent’ I struggle.

#Truthbomb

I spend my days researching and writing about parenting strategies and yet I still have a six-year-old who will regularly throw a wicked tantrum, a hard right hook and drop some serious F bombs.

So basically, if this doesn’t describe your parenting life, you are probably doing an amazing job. If it does sound familiar, please message me so we can commiserate over a box of wine.

Seriously, though, parenting is something that I don’t think you can ever get good at. How can you ever become an expert at something that is constantly changing?

I mean, as soon as I figure out how to get them to sleep in their own beds, they decide that they want to instead start waking up at five a.m. (only on weekends, during the week they refuse to wake up).

One minute I can hide their veggies in pasta sauce, the next they refuse to eat anything red. They love bananas and I can’t keep them in the house, the next week I am making loaf after loaf of banana bread with the mushy remnants of food they now refuse to eat.

How am I supposed to master this delicate art of negotiation, bribery and sleep deprivation?

My parenting goals

My ultimate goal as a parent is to produce people who are honest, respectful and productive members of society-yet my kids seem to be hell bent on the opposite.

They love each other, really.  Deep down somewhere they really and truly enjoy each other. It’s just buried below resentment, jealousy and a tendency to steal each other’s toys.

Advice from the real experts

Luckily, I am in a position where I am constantly researching the latest parenting techniques. The biggest perk of this job is the ability to get a parenting expert on the phone for some free (but invaluable!) advice on my latest parenting problem.

For example, my middle daughter took a sleeping strike for a few months. Several sleep articles and some monster spray later, she is in her own bed.

I also got to have a therapy session (also known as a phone interview) with Parenting Expert Alyson Schaffer. She gave me some invaluable advice about sibling rivalry.

Parenting has been the biggest challenge I have ever faced. The stakes are high, the sleep is minimal and you will not be properly thanked unless they have children of their own one day. As I head into my eighth year of being someone’s ‘mom’, I realize that while I have made lots of mistakes, I am also raising three pretty awesome kids.

I think that when it comes down to it, if you are always learning, engaging and trying to be a better parent for your kids, you are probably already there.

If not, my offer for sharing the box of wine still stands.

 

*Opinions expressed are those of the author, and not necessarily those of Parent Life Network or their partners.

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