Parenting Is Tough… But You’re Doin’ Good

Parenting is tough for a lot of reasons. But mostly, it’s tough because we don’t get a lot of feedback in this line of work. There’s no performance evaluation. There’s no report card. A lot of times, there’s no feedback at all until something goes wrong… and also sometimes, when something goes right. I was really moved when I saw the Minute Maid® “Doin’ Good” initiative recently, and I’m proud that they’re sponsoring today’s post to help get the word out that parents out there are doin’ good.  Probably a lot better than they think.

There’s so much out there that makes us doubt that we’re doing a good job, isn’t there? I read so many articles about how it’s easy to teach your kids good manners, good morals, and good behavior. Teach them to respect others, to clean up after themselves, and to eat their veggies. Meanwhile, I make a phone call or take a quick shower, and it feels like a miracle if the kids actually survive – much less act like tiny model citizens. In just ten minutes, my living room can go from I-just-picked-that-up to this:

Oh trust me… that’s just the couch.  I’m not even going to show you the whole thing, because someone is clearly running around without pants at this point.  And I don’t know why the giraffe is wearing a shoe.

See, sometimes I worry that I’m not doing enough, or that what I’m doing is wrong.  Am I making enough time for my kids? Am I fostering their creativity? Am I teaching them how to be good friends and good kids? Will they ever stop spontaneously removing articles of clothing? Are other parents going to judge that my living room looks like this? Or judge that even as I type this, my daughter really wants me to put a puzzle together with her, but I can’t because I’m working? It’s almost overwhelming. I worry that I might not be the perfect mom that I want to be. But then I see these two. They’re happy. They’re healthy. They’re learning to love one another, to know a little bit of independence, and that I’ll always cave if they want me to read one more story.

Cutting ourselves some slack is the first step, but there’s more we can do. It’s important that we realize that we’re doin’ good – but we can tell others that they’re doin’ good too. Because that parenting struggle? We all have it. We all feel that doubt. We can see our mistakes. But sometimes we need a reminder to see the good too. Check out this new video from my friends at Minute Maid®.  Share it with friends and family in your life who could use a reminder that they, too, are doing a great job as a parent. Tissue alert: you might need one.  I did.

See, this really hit home for me.  It reminded me that not only are we doing all right after all, but that I don’t tell my husband often enough that he’s doing a good job, too. He has the same doubts and hopes and fears and joys as I do, raising these particular kids. With their quirks and fears and talents – no family is quite like ours.  So I’m going to get started on a special Father’s Day gift, and interview the kids about Daddy, and see just what they have to say. Which should be interesting, at this age, haha.

I don’t know that I’ll be able to capture parenthood the way Minute Maid® can, but I can at least let him know that all the work he puts in is appreciated – and not just by me. These kids adore him!

You’re doin’ good – don’t forget that!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Minute Maid®.