Tuesday, October 28, 2014

29 Lessons from Ten Years of Parenting

Hard to believe I've been a mom for 10 years.

From 2004-2014, we've lived in 5 different apartments/houses and had 5 children. We've celebrated 26 birthdays, packed crayons and Cheerios for church 560 times, and changed diapers for the better part of 3,650 days.

29 Lessons from Ten Years of Parenting -- a mother of 5 shares what she's learned about keeping small humans alive over the last 10 years  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}
We have no idea what we're getting into. (2004)

Before my first was born, I had a vague notion that parents more and less had it all together and did everything deliberately according to their parenting philosophy of choice... needless to say, I've since learned that is ridiculously untrue.

Here are some other things I've figured out in the last crazy 10 years.

1. For the first two years of a child's life, parenting is pretty much just managing their bodily fluids.

2. When you're sick, sleep-deprived, or both, it isn't a good time to be doing big-picture evaluations of your life. In actuality, you probably aren't the world's most horrible parent and/or human being. Get some sleep and think about it when you feel better.

3. Kids don't mind having the same thing for lunch every single day. They actually like it.

4. It only takes 2 minutes to go from utterly adoring your children to wanting to sell them on eBay.

5. It takes a very special person to enjoy baking with children. Some people seem to enjoy cleaning flour off of every conceivable surface in the kitchen while the kids fight over who gets to lick the spoon. If this isn't you, accept it and move on.

6. Kids need a compass in life. Whatever religion or belief system you use to guide your life, teach it to your children.

7. Establish a family identity. Make your kids feel that they belong to something special by being a part of your family. (Our family identity is "mental institution," and it seems to work for us.)

29 Lessons from Ten Years of Parenting -- a mother of 5 shares what she's learned about keeping small humans alive over the last 10 years  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}
Comatose on a family hiking trip. (2012)

8. You will Google "how to clean X out of Y" about 100 times per year. You'll also be astounded that somewhere, someone else's toddler has done the exact same thing yours just did. Yours colored on the microfiber couch with an orange Sharpie? Mine, too! Yours spilled Comet cleaner with bleach on the carpet and poured apple juice on top of it? So did mine! It really makes you feel that we parents are all connected.

9. Sometimes you'll pretend you don't know your child is in the other room unwrapping every Band-Aid in the box and sticking them to the floor so that you can have a few more minutes of peace and quiet.

10. The "mommy wars" only exist to the extent that we participate in them. For the most part, all moms know it's a hard job and we're all doing the best we can.

11. It's perfectly okay for good moms to think their children are really weird.

29 Lessons from Ten Years of Parenting -- a mother of 5 shares what she's learned about keeping small humans alive over the last 10 years  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}

Wearing waffle block armor. (2010) 

12. No matter how cute they are, babies fart like grown men and occasionally shoot poop up their back and into their hair.

13. As a parent you'll find yourself saying things you never thought you'd say out loud, such as "Please stop rubbing your cantaloupe on your forehead" and "Put down the sword and stop trying to cut your brother's head off. It's time for family prayer."

14. It's great to feed your kids wholesome, organic foods free of sugars, dyes, and preservatives. It's also okay to have "cereal night" for dinner when you're just really, really tired.

15. All kids eat their own boogers at least once. Even yours.

16. When you find a system that works for you in organizing chores, streamlining bedtime, or whatever, enjoy it while it lasts. Soon it won't work anymore and you'll have to find a new system.

17. The things that you're stressed out about right now probably don't matter as much as you think they do.

29 Lessons from Ten Years of Parenting -- a mother of 5 shares what she's learned about keeping small humans alive over the last 10 years  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}
The Evans family: bed jumping before it was cool. (2006)

18. When you're really angry at your children, try whispering instead of yelling. It will get their attention much faster.

19. The mom who arrived at church on Sunday with her six children in matching, ironed clothes and cute hairstyles had to get up at 4:30 in the morning in order to do it.

20. You'll be tempted to stay up late finishing things after everyone's in bed. It's usually not worth it to trade a few hours' productivity today for a crappy, tired 24 hours tomorrow. (I like to test this theory 2 or 3 times a week to see if it's still true. It is.)

21. You're not the maid, so expect your kids to clean up after themselves and pitch in to help the family.

22. Never, ever interrupt a toddler who is playing quietly on her own.

23. There should be two big parties thrown in every child's life: their birthday, and the day when they can buckle their own seat belt in the car.

24. When your kids start school, they'll bring home the equivalent in paper of one small tree per week.

25. You'll resort to sneaking kids' crafts, art projects, and school papers out to the garbage bin in the dead of night so they don't realize they're missing.

29 Lessons from Ten Years of Parenting -- a mother of 5 shares what she's learned about keeping small humans alive over the last 10 years  {posted @ Unremarkable Files}
Stuck in the dryer again. (2011)

26. Protect your family time as your children grow older. They'll want to fill up all their time with classes, lessons, sports, and playdates. Keep family time sacred.

27. Twice a year (Christmas and the end of the school year,) you'll be asked to contribute toward gifts for everyone who's ever taught, coached, tutored, or interacted with your school-age children in any way. Your budget may need some tweaking.

28. People will always have opinions on your family size, parenting style, etc. Don't let a rude comment from Random Grocery Store Stranger make you forget what's best for your own family.

29. Pray for your children and forgive yourself when you don't do everything right. There's no way to be a perfect mom, but lots of ways to be a good one.

In my 10 years of motherhood I’ve learned a thing or two. Some are serious, some are hilarious, and some are just plain weird. But that’s life with kids for you. #motherhood#lifewithkids #kids #parentingquotes#raisingchildren #unremarkablefiles
In my 10 years of motherhood I’ve learned a thing or two. Some are serious, some are hilarious, and some are just plain weird. But that’s life with kids for you. #motherhood#lifewithkids #kids #parentingquotes#raisingchildren #unremarkablefiles
Parenting is just plain hard sometimes! Don't worry, you're not the only one who feels like a bad mom for not having figured it all out by now. See for yourself with these 29 truths of motherhood from a mom 10 years into parenting who STILL doesn't know what she's doing. #parenting #funny #lifewithkids #momlife #truths
In my 10 years of motherhood I’ve learned a thing or two. Some are serious, some are hilarious, and some are just plain weird. But that’s life with kids for you. #motherhood#lifewithkids #kids #parentingquotes #raisingchildren #unremarkablefiles
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9 comments:

Unknown said...

This is so true we are our own worst enemies thinking that we have to do everything but really we just have one important goal - to enjoy them whilst they are still children.

Emma T said...

Great list. I have to admit being astounded in hospital with my newborn when I heard him fart! I couldn't believe newborns farted that loud #sharewithme

Let's Talk Mommy said...

This list is absolutely fantastic. I can relate to so many already and I am sure more to come in the future. Great post. Thanks for linking up to Share With Me. Sorry if you had any trouble commenting on my site today as the host is being transferred there are a few glitches to fix. Apologies. #sharewithme

Meredith said...

#4 yes! And #19 yes!! Actually all of it, but I loved those two. Great post! Going to share in my fb page. :)

Megan said...

Ha! Love these, especially 4 and 5!

PurpleSlob said...

So very true. Except I didn't have Google when mine were little! So our decorating scheme was mix and match whatever!
You forgot Never wake a sleeping baby!! For any reason less than the house on fire is justifiable homocide. Lol

Jenny Evans said...

Once there was a weather warning and it looked BAD outside, enough that I was scared enough to wake up the baby and take all the kids into the basement. I was almost mad when there ended up NOT being a tornado!

Jenny said...

There are so many relatable things in this. I read the baking one and realized my neighbor is that special mom. She just made donuts with my kids and hers...

mom jeans said...

A great list. Thanks Jenny :)