If you think parenting is easy, you are prolly F$&@?ing up.
For the most part, we all hear that parenting is the hardest job in the world, but the most rewarding! In my case, like most parents, I think parenting is really f$&@?ing hard. 

But it’s the best thing we have ever done. 

Sounds like an oxymoron, but doesn’t anything that brings you the greatest joy in life and sunshine in your heart require hard work? The answer should be a resounding yes!

I like to say that pregnancy is the easy part. Even tho it’s very difficult, emotional, nauseating, and exhausting, it’s a cake walk compared to the unwritten, fairytale, nightmare, best seller you are about to write with your family. The ups and downs, twists and turns, loves and loss, triumph and heartache that we both enjoy and hate in our lives. 

Parenting is the most important job in the world. We are continuing the human race. It’s our job to teach them manners, the difference between right and wrong, the golden rule etc., and praying that they have a conscience. Some of these things are inherited, but they don’t know unless you tell them. I think I’m a little too honest and open with my boys. I scare the hell out of them about stranger danger. What to do if they get lost or if someone is creepy. Teaching them early on about body awareness and boundaries. 

We don’t live in the 50’s, 60’s, & 70’s anymore. Hell I’m a child of the 80’s, and we were safer then than we ever will be again. 

Researching other generations is important to learn from the past. 
Do you know where your children are?

My hubby looked up the article above last night. He said “Do you remember hearing ‘It’s 10 o’clock, do you know where your children are?'” I had heard of this, but what we found seemed more interesting to me than the PSA itself.

My generation, GenY or Millenials, is always hearing and reading things should be simple like they were in the good ole days. Let kids be kids. Well, maybe not so much…

The PSA was largely targeting the parents of Generation X, described by a 2004 marketing study on HighBeam Research as “one of the least parented, least nurtured generations in U.S. history.”[3][4][5][6]

It goes on to discuss the creation of a latchkey kid Latchkey Kid and the pros and cons to that lifestyle.

If we don’t parent our kids, who will? Having rules, regulations, and laws are essential to our safety as a society. But are we raising a generation of self righteous, entitled assholes?!

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Simple everyday things like taking them on play dates, birthday parties, the park, grocery shopping and even to get gas has become a headache, a treat and torture all in one. That’s life today nothing is easy and we are all busy.

When I hear older generations say, “My kids were easy” and “Just let them play”, My husband and I look at each other puzzled and think “Um, maybe you f$&@?ed up.” If parenting is easy, I’m pretty sure you aren’t doing it right. 

“Nothing worth doing right is easy.” – Mike Matheny

“Nothing in the world is worth having, or worth doing, unless it means effort, pain, and difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.”
-Theodore Roosevelt

We are setting our children up for failure if we are not good parents, role models, and teachers. 

Saying “No!” is harder than saying “Yes”. 

“There are winners and losers in games.” 

“Life isn’t fair.” 

“Bad things happen.” 

“Being polite is important.” 

“Be the friend you want to have.” 

“Communication is key.” 

“Open your mind, but guard your heart.”

 “Listening is an art.” 

“Patience will get you far in life.” 

This and all that other stuff you thought was bullshit, it’s what your parents should have told you. 

It’s all true. I’m still learning these on the daily! 
We have to learn to parent our children’s generation. Unfortunately, we don’t have the freedoms, trust, or maybe ignorance, of the past generations. But we can help create a new crop of adults that can continue the basic fundamentals of what it means to be a good person. The journey of our lives as kids into adults, and then into parents, requires all the virtues and promotes personal greatness in our kids.  
We have summer chore charts and we started asking the boys at bedtime, “what made you smile today? What made you sad today? What did you learn today?” 
It’s not going that well but I think Reflecting is important for everyone no matter what the age. Doing the right thing is hard and I am learning more from my 2 little, angel, nugget monsters than I ever thought possible.

Embracing the present, learning from the past, and looking to the future are how we learn to navigate this life, and love it everyday we are given. 
Xoxo
Just happy mommy