Parenting Is...

~ Keeping a straight face when you have to punish your kid for saying some ~~funny~~ naughty.

~ Cleaning one room only to discover the kid’s made a mess in a different room.

~ 90% grocery shopping and food prep. 10% ensuring everyone has the right color plate.

~ Eating your kid’s leftovers because you simply don’t have the energy to prepare more food.

~ Finding strange things in strange places and wondering what the logic was that got it there.

~ Hoping your spouse notices someone needs a diaper change so you don’t have to do it.

~ Simultaneously feeling terrified and excited to have the next 18 years +/- with the same kids.

~ Hiding the {insert food weakness} you really want to eat but do not want to share.

~ Running late because someone’s shoes are missing. {Seriously, where do they go?}

~ An endless loop of washing the floor, wiping butts, and folding laundry.

~ It’s learning you are SO far from perfect it’s not even funny.

~ Constantly second guessing yourself, your words, and your actions.

~ Trusting your instincts are generally spot-on.

~ Learning that it’s easier to be impatient than to remain calm.

~ Loving the individual personalities your children have, and embracing their imperfections…Because despite them, they are perfect.

~ Learning to let go, even when you secretly want to keep hanging on.

~ Re-living the magic of childhood through the eyes of your babies.

~ Seeing parts of yourself alive in someone else; for better or worse.

~ Learning to dance, one milestone at a time, together.

~ Finally, it’s seeing your heart walk outside of your body and go into this world with the wings you gave them.

Truly, is there anything more beautiful?

What is parenting to you in one phrase?