Parenting

Being a parent is the hardest thing I have ever done, but also the most rewarding. Parenting is a mirror that reflects the good and bad about me, sometimes to my dismay, sometimes shouting to me that I’m inadequate or failing. Sometimes this mirror reflects changes I’ve made for the better, ways I’ve improved as I handle situations differently than I did in the past. Sometimes it even tells me that I’m succeeding as a parent. Parenting requires me to recognize what I consider truly important-what values I want to pass on to my children and to recognize that I’m always teaching them what I believe in by my actions and words whether I want to or not.  Would I do things differently now with my older children? Definitely yes! Would I go back and do it over again? Definitely no!  Some of those days were so hard that I never want to experience them again, but I did learn a lot from them that’s helped me become the person I am today.  Today I am kinder, quicker to praise and not so exacting. Today I say sorry easier and truly mean it.  Some of my older kids tell me that I’d never let them get away with what their younger brothers and sisters did and I tell them they’re right but allow me to have learned some things about what’s truly important.  Being a parent is the hardest thing I have ever done, but also the most rewarding!