You are Not Alone- A Blog for the Overwhelmed Parent.

    Yesterday I took my bonus daughter to meet the teacher. With my few-day-old infant in tow. I’m always nervous about these events because I want my child to be perfect. I want her to be quiet. I want her to be sweet and use manners. I want her to be the cutest little angel who brings joy to every person she meets. Like most three-year-olds, sometimes she’s the complete opposite, and while I’m whispering in her ear about my expectations, I start to look around the room. I see moms everywhere counting down, giving the mom looks /fingers. Telling their kiddos to sit still or be quiet, or juggling multiple kids and bags. 

      As the event went on, I noticed parents telling their children the same things I tell mine, and I couldn’t help but smile. Not because I thought it was funny, but because I understood exactly what they were feeling. For the first time, I didn’t feel like I was on an island surrounded by watching eyes. I realized we were all on this parent island together, and the only thing keeping us feeling alone or embarrassed by our kids' behavior was fear that someone else might be judging. 

      I say all of that to say that next time you feel like your kid is the worst in the room, or you feel like you’re alone, remember we are all going through some of the same things. Take a second and smile at the mom who looks like she just needs a little support, laugh with moms because you know what it’s like to have to tell your kids something 100 times. Most importantly, give you, your children, and your spouse some grace to be a little wild sometimes.