6 Lessons from the Parenting Trenches

--1--

If if smells like a bodily fluid, it probably is.  'Nuff said.

--2--

Those babies who sleep through the night at two weeks and never seem to cause any problems?  Wait until they turn one.  Then you have the pain of newborn sleeping habits combined with a truly irascible (and overtired) toddler.

--3--

And for those babies who never sleep for the whole first year?  Eventually they do sleep, and some even take regular naps, but not before you are ready to sell them for just a few hours of shut-eye.  

--4--

Children are impossible for the entire year after they take their first steps.  Then, inexplicably, it gets better.

--5--

At least,  it gets better until they turn four.  And four is great, except for the part where you as a parent realize that you have a sentient, slightly rational human being who now needs to be parented.  As in, raised.  It is no longer entirely about feeding, clothing, and sheltering them.  Suddenly those big questions of what to do about lying, or willfulness pop up, and you find yourself looking around and wondering when the real grown ups are going to show up.

--6--

Just about the time you get things figured out, they switch everything on  you.  And you realize, hey, you are the grown up, and man, this is hard.  But it is worth it because they are your family.  Besides, where else would you get such great comedic material?  (I recently overheard my husband instructing the boys in the bathroom one night during the bedtime routine: "Don't put your foot in the toilet!  That is a good lesson for life.")  You can't make this stuff up!

--7--

And just for something pretty!  I copied this card from a splitcoaststamper who goes by passionflower.  Brilliant design, and I loved the monochromatic color scheme with that little pop of red.  

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