Mistakes in Motherhood

Have you ever been at the store and seen a parent interact with a child and think to yourself “Wow, that is a horrible parent” or “I would never do/say that to my child”.  Did you grow up thinking how wrong your parents were with you and how you will never be the same way when you have kids? 

Parenting is so much easier before you are a mom (or dad).  I thought I had it all figured out, I even planned the names and genders and age gaps of my children… HAH!

I had planned on having a daughter, then a son 5 years after I married (which would have been right after I graduated from medical school as a physician’s assistant), I wanted to be in my early 30′s and space my kids 2 1/2 years apart.

I also thought I could raise children without getting stressed out, raising my voice, or saying things like “because I said so”.  I thought I could devote 100% of my free-time with my kids and still have time to prepare a home cooked, healthy, organic dinner.  I thought I would be able to play with them, and read to them, and sing with them from the moment they got up until the moment they went to sleep.  I could not understand why my parents did not want to play with me when I was little.

Well, somehow I managed to follow through with part of what I wanted to do with my children, but I also know I am only one person.  I also know that without children, I did not know what it was like to have children, and I now know not to judge.  Heck, even parents with kids will judge other parents.  Honestly, there are situations where I judge other moms and I am working on trying not to judge them… especially Austin’s birth mom.  I have not walked in their shoes, I cannot say I would have done it different.  Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.  I am trying!

Isn’t it funny how smart you are until you become a parent?  It is like children humble you.  “You are not raising children you are raising adults, and everything you do today impacts what kind of adult your child will become.  You are building the future.” – Dr. Phil McGraw. 

In: A lot about nothing | tags: A lot about nothing, Parenting. | #