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The Sh*t They Don't Tell You: Lesson #5

Lessons about the trials, tribulations, and the downright disgusting parts of parenthood that they don't tell you about!

By Tiffany WadePublished 6 years ago 3 min read
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Losing Your Shit.

You're standing there, telling yourself that if you hear "Mommy!" one more time today, you're going to explode. You're crying on the bathroom toilet with a Snickers bar hanging halfway out of your mouth, knowing that if you hear one more request to watch that damned Paw Patrol episode, you're going to have yourself a conniption. You're rushing everybody out the door only to find your three-year-old standing in the room butt naked (but at least she has shoes on!) and YOU LOSE YOUR SHIT.

Let's face it, any and every parent has been there. Although the straw that breaks the camel's back may be different for all of us, we have all been in a situation with our children that calls for something just short of World War III. Kids are needy little buggers, and even on our bad days it is up to us to come to their rescue. Again. And again. And again. As if you didn't need another reminder that those little sparkly-eyed, snotty-nosed, dirty-handed heart stealers are your responsibility (and your privilege!) I'm going to tell you again!

Lesson #5: We all lose our shit. Promise yourself you’ll do better tomorrow, take some time for yourself (self-care is important) and don’t beat yourself up about it.

Even on the good days, us parents are bound to run into something difficult, and sometimes, a little irritating. My best advice for this should be to just breathe, step away for a few minutes after ensuring the kiddos are safe, get your shit together and get back in the ring. But it's not. (Although, this is something you should practice, regardless of if it’s my BEST advice or not. It’s still some darn good advice.) No, my best advice for losing your shit is to not kick yourself in the ass for it. We all do it, and it’s bound to happen with even the most patient of parents. Don’t think you’re a bad parent and don’t let anyone tell you that you are. The second step to this is to promise yourself that you'll try better tomorrow, you'll take one more "mommy" before raising your voice, you'll give your kiddos a little extra time in the morning, so the three-year-old can maybe have herself dressed in time, you'll tolerate that Paw Patrol episode just once more than your usual seven times limit. Promise yourself that you'll try better tomorrow, but don't beat yourself up over the fact of losing your shit. Finally, and probably most important in preventative measures for future shit-losing, when the littles go to bed (after you've hugged them tight and have reminded them how much you love them) brew yourself some tea, pour yourself a glass of wine, or your preferred drink of choice, and relax. Whether that be a movie with your spouse, a Netflix binge session, or a hot bubble bath (don’t forget the candles!) just be sure to take time to relax. The laundry can wait, the dishes can wait. The house will surely be messy enough for you to clean tomorrow!

All in all, it’s a hard world when you’re a parent. We all find ourselves yelling at our children, or losing our patience when we know we shouldn’t have, and we already get judged too harshly. Don’t be your biggest critic in this one. Tell yourself you messed up, but it’s okay, promise yourself tomorrow will be a better day, and make sure to have some time for self-care, before you get burnt out and find yourself losing your shit often. And know that, just as your love for your littles is unconditional, so is theirs for you.

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About the Creator

Tiffany Wade

I'm just me. Tiffany. Mom of Z, B and SC.

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