Jason and I went to dinner with some friends last night. They are the kind of friends that you don't spend enough time with and you're not sure why. We always have such a good time when we are out with them. I am sure that proximity and family/work obligations has a lot to do with it. They live a considerable distance from us. Their work life and ours can get a bit crazy at times and, like us, they have 2 small children.
It was the conversation revolving around children that got me thinking. Their kids are about 2 years apart like our children are, but their kids are several years younger. They are 'in the trenches'. It made me realize how far we have come with our own children. I remember the 'in the trenches' feeling. Sure, my kids are a pain in the neck frequently, they are kids...it's their job, but I am not dealing with the potty training trauma, the what spit-up am I wearing today game, the lack of sleep daze that comes with young children.
What impressed me most was the relief that both she and I felt from our conversation. We both have had such similar parenting experiences even though she stays at home with the kids while I worked and used daycare. It feels wonderful to realize that you are not the only person to have feelings of stress & depression over children, strain on relationships because of the stress and depression, and general frustration. I would love to start a movement called "Truth in Parenting". Let's be honest about our feelings toward our children and the parenting side of things. I love my kids more than life itself and would do ANYTHING for them, but sometime they grate my nerves and get on my bad side. It's OK. It doesn't make me a bad parent to say that.
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