Some days, my kids frustrate me so much that I honestly don’t know what to do with myself. Today was one of those days. I ended up calling my mom, yes, again she is my motherhood dictionary and asking the same question I’ve been asking her for years, “How did you do it? How did you raise six kids to grown-ups and still stay… sane?”
I swear, parenting feels like juggling flaming swords while riding a unicycle. There are days when I’m pretty sure I’m failing at everything. But talking to my mom makes me remember something important that she also wasn’t perfect. None of us are. She just kept showing up, day after day, trying her best, even when the house was chaos incarnate.
She told me once that the trick isn’t having all the answers it’s about being consistent, showing up, and loving your kids even when they drive you crazy. She laughed when she said it, and I think that is what makes it stick. Humor. Even in the messiest moments, she found a way to laugh. I’m slowly learning that it’s okay to feel frustrated because that doesn’t make me a bad parent. It just makes me human.
Another thing she always stressed is that you can’t forget yourself. She found little pockets of time for herself, whether it was reading a book, walking outside, or just sitting quietly for five minutes. At the time, I didn’t understand it. Now I get it. You need a little sanity for yourself if you want to have any left for your kids.
Hearing her telling me her stories and advice makes me appreciate the rollercoaster of parenting more than I usually do. Yes, it’s exhausting. Yes, it’s messy. But it is also hilarious, chaotic, and full of love. And somehow, even when I feel like I might lose my mind, I remember, my mom did it with six kids, and somehow, I’ll survive too.
So, yeah. I’ll probably keep calling her every time I feel like I’m about to lose it. But now, I’m learning to laugh, take a breath, and just keep showing up. Because that is what parenting is really about, messy, imperfect, and completely worth it.
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