Parenting in the 21st Century

Yesterday was a doozy of a day.

And as I was showering off Mr. Potty-Trained-Unless-I'm-Playing-Way-Far-From-the-House-and-Don't-Wanna-Walk-Up-the-Hill for the second time yesterday, tears were stinging in my eyes, and I was frustrated.

I was frustrated because at the exact moment that I was hosing Ezra off, Spencer was sobbing in his room, and Henry was burying a newt that had been killed by our chickens. Miriam was blessedly asleep and Oliver was (as Oliver does) observing.

And I had yelled and yelled.


"Goodness, I suck at this," I thought as I wondered what to say to the child that  had accidentally let the little wild newt into the chicken run, despite my insistence that they NOT let the lizard get close to the chickens.

I just didn't know.

I never know.

I feel like the minute I get it figured out, they go and do things I couldn't predict, therefore couldn't prepare for.

And if you ask this parenting expert or that parenting expert, then each and every situation calls for exactly the same response, ad nauseum.

Except.

THIS parenting expert wants you to remember that clear and consistent expectations are key.

THAT parenting expert wants you to remember that children just free spirits and they simply need your love. If you LOVE them enough they'll behave.

Don't forget those guys over there that think you ought to have charts and star stickers and...and...and...

Then don't forget that you need to be CHERISHING EVERY MOMENT BECAUSE DAMN IT YOU WILL MISS THIS.



You will.

But don't worry because they get big and go to school (except when they don't), and it gets easier.



And for goodness sake Mama, make sure to take some time for self-care because Mama can't function if her well is empty.

GET OFF YOUR PHONE. LOOK AT YOUR CHILDREN. THEY ARE GROWING UP, AND YOU ARE MISSING IT.






















But if you aren't strict, and you don't enforce your rules, your children will grow up to be drug dealers.

And don't pick up that baby who is crying because then she learns that is how to get what she wants.

Children can't possibly manipulate you that way. They are just self-centered.

Send your children outside, let them be free.

Except, when they need to be learning responsibility. Then they need to be doing more chores.


Are those grapes organic?

The beauty of parenting in the 21st century is that you are never alone. If you have a problem, just ask the Google and 31,356 people have answers or have experienced exactly what you are going through.

The ugly of parenting in the 21st century is that you are never alone. If you have a problem, just ask the Google and 31,356 people have answers or have experienced exactly what you are going through.

Our parents just parented the way their parents parented. For better or for worse, there wasn't google. Sometimes I feel badly that my mom didn't have an army of other moms to cyber-connect with when she was troubled.

And other times, I wish it would all just stop.

Yesterday, I didn't need an army.

Some days I do. And in those situations, I'm grateful for a huge vast world of information, and the intelligence to discern what my children need in our unique situation.

But yesterday...

Yesterday, I just said a prayer.

That was the right thing to do.


I'm going to just go with that more often. I pray a lot. I do. And I'm just going to do it more.

Yup. Screw all the parenting experts and the newest internet craze (Thank you Orange Rhino for making me feel like shiz every time I raise my voice.)

I'm just going to say a prayer.



*all photo sources can be found off my pinterest page here*.