25 Times As a Parent When It’s OKAY Not To Enjoy Every Second

As sweet as it is to say, “Enjoy every second!” to a young mom, it’s just cruel. Because, no. Just no.

There are some parts of being a parent that are impossible to enjoy.

Some moments you can’t enjoy every second. Some are just meant to be endured, and that’s OK.

Because one day we will have momnesia and want these crazy times back in our lives.

But, until then, here are 25 Times As a Parent When It’s OKAY Not To Enjoy Every Second

When my kids fight over a certain color of anything. No matter how much I reason that water does not, in fact, taste any different out of blue cups than red ones, the wrath of 3 kids is not worth it. Save your sanity and buy everything the same color. In fact, teach your children there are no other colors.

When my tween screams, rolls her eyes and slams the door in my face because I asked her to put her shoes away.

Standing in line at Target while my 4-year-old convinces me he needs every variety of gum, mints, and a candy bar while I chit chat with a cashier about how great today is. And when I say no 4,322 times, he moves on to ask for something ridiculous like a pack of batteries.

I can’t enjoy every second when my Threenager refuses exactly what they asked me for.

Waking up in the middle of the night because someone wants me to pick up their stuffed animal for them.

Awkward conversations when someone implies your parenting sucks and you want to just yell, “YOU DON’T KNOW ME!” but they actually do, and you bite your tongue instead. Then I lay in bed and think of three comebacks later when I’m trying to finally fall asleep at the end of the day.

Getting kids ready for bed.

Common core math homework.

The circus act that is grocery shopping with all three kids.

Going to IKEA. With or without kids it’s not good. Even when you learn the shortcuts, you still manage to get enough steps on your fit bit that someone might think you’ve started training for a marathon. And you’re like, no just trying to find a cheap, black picture frame that I could literally buy anywhere else.

The first time one of my kids said, “I hate you.”

When babies can only roll over one way.

Babies are cute and adorable, but it sucks when they can only roll over to their bellies and then scream like it’s all your fault that they have to eat hair off your carpet for a few minutes while you try to finish vacuuming.

Blowouts.

When kids throw up and you think it’s a good idea to catch it.

When you decide it’s a good idea to keep your kids up past their bedtime, and the whole next day is a disaster involves telling kids that they are just tired when they are convinced that you are out to make their lives absolutely miserable.

Packing lunches.

Opening packages of graham crackers.

If I didn’t have kids, I would not buy those just for the packaging that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

Traveling with sick kids.

Being stuck in the car with a screaming kid. It’s kind of like being stuck with a bee in your car, except with the bee you could roll down the window and flick it out if he gets close. Spoiler alert, you can’t do that with kids.

Potty training.

That time my husband and I separated at the mall so the kids could ride a train, and when we found each other again, both kids had puked all over him. We both spent the night passing each other in the hall helping our children throw up all night.

Kids arguing just to argue.

Living in daily fear of a head lice invasion in your home.

That time I found poop sitting on my bedroom floor and no one claimed it.

Hearing myself repeat something 283 times because no one is listening.

Thank goodness for the sweet moments, because that is what keeps me going. Don’t let anyone say you have to enjoy every moment of parenthood. Yes, it goes by fast, but we’ll just keep enjoying the parts of the ride that we do like thank you very much.

More on Being a Parent while Not Enjoying Every Single Moment of it:

• I Was Counting Down The Seconds Until This Season Of Parenting. But, It’s Lonely.
• I Love You But You Also Infuriate Me – A Parenting Story
• 5 Things Every Parent of 3 (or more) Kids Knows for Sure

My Must-Have Parenting Resources:

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• Help your kids by helping yourself – get my favorite parenting book
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