When Parenting Days End in Tears

Parenting is probably the toughest job on the planet.  There's no training manual, no "right" way of doing things, a million people to judge your "style", decisions, and more, and no paycheck at the end of the week.  It's an often thankless job, one in which lasts a lifetime, and has very few breaks.  One that is challenging, and frustrating, and expensive.

Some parenting days are easier than others.  Some end with wonderful smiles and thankful faces and a full heart knowing you helped your children grow just a little bit more that day.  And others....end in tears.

Some days, the answer to your husband's, "how was your day?" question leads to a silent tear-filled face.  Some days you feel like you just helped your children take two steps back in terms of growing into healthy adult people someday.  Some days you feel like a failure, and like you can't possibly find the right answer to guide your child through their problems.  Because there is no correct answer, no perfect solution, or no fitting consequences.

And it's hard.  Really hard.  Hard to remind yourself that you're not a failure.  That other parents don't have it all together, that there really isn't a perfect answer, and you really can't be a perfect parent anyway.  Even if you tried. That we are going to mess up.  Sometimes big time.  That "I'm sorry's" are okay and quickly forgiven by gracious children.  That sometimes the right answer is to just love them through it all and not worry about the "mess" of life and how things will work out.

In the tear-filled parenting days, it's good to let it all out.  To remind ourselves that we CAN'T do it all, be it all, and fix it all.  To remind ourselves that it is, indeed, an incredibly difficult journey, fraught with challenges on the daily.  To remind ourselves that we are human, with mistakes-a-plenty today...and the next.

And then, through the tears, to remind ourselves that we are enough.  That giving our kids our best is enough.  That making mistakes, and apologizing, and making adjustments are not only okay but are a part of life.  And that our kids will turn out just fine.  They'll be fine.  They are loved, and we are loved, and we'll make it.

Parenting is hard.  Grace is needed.  And hugs.  Always more hugs.