What it the definition of parenthood?
The Oxford English dictionary describes it as;
“The state of being a parent and the responsibilities involved.”
Wow. That says a lot doesn’t it? I’ve got my own definition, I think you’ll find it’s a little more detailed!
The definition of parenthood by an exhausted mother.
Parenthood is;
~ the ability to function on 3 hours sleep. For a week. Or a month. Or 6!
~ listening to 20 ‘jokes’ on a car journey and still manage to force a laugh out at the 21st one. (Or at least not pulling over and buying 12 bottles of wine!)
~ living a groundhog day for years and still having the ability to smile and make things fun and exciting. Even the 5 millionth load of washing! (Or maybe not exciting but still doing it anyway!)
~ coming up with 50 gazillion lunchbox ideas to keep it interesting. Ok that’s a lie, but I do change sandwich fillings regularly. Occasionally. They really like cheese and pickle alright?!
~ washing things. All the things!
~ learning to do the hair of someone very anti having their hair done, when you are late, making you a master tangle hider!
~ cooking meal after meal after meal. And becoming bored of your own lack of imagination when it comes to meals. The groaning shelf of cookbooks suggests that having just five meals on rotation is a very poor effort!
~ putting aside your own feelings. Maybe you think your partner is an utter *I don’t swear on my blog so use your imagination here!* but you can’t have the petulant full blown shout out you used to, I mean it’s good to show children a range of emotions and feelings, but having a full blown foot stamper at being left the washing up again is not really possible, especially when they get to the age where they take sides and join in! You become an expert in the whisper row, and passive aggressive tea making. ‘Oh, did you want one too? Sorry.’
~ watching your children stride out in the most amazing clothes while you pull your 10 year old jumper down over the jeans that don’t really do your new parent body that many favours.
~ listening to painful practising of reading, musical instruments, songs from the choir. And smiling throughout. And clapping at the end.
~ watching endless shows, which have to start again from the beginning if you look away for a minute!
~ realising that it’s been 4 months since you spoke to a friend. And a year since you saw them.
~ finding yourself with the head in the cupboard inhaling the children’s Easter eggs on the low low whilst encouraging them to eat their healthy snack.
~ wondering where the hell all the toothbrushes go. And hairclips.
~ carrying about 20 things and still taking the coat/ cardigan/ stick.
~ pretty great most of the time, despite all of the above, especially when we have moments like below! 🙂
What would you add to my moan list?
Pahahahaha…I do the passive agressive coffee making thing too. I would also add for the parent definition the ability to hold complete conversations with you child without having actually listened to a word they said (also transferable as a husband skill)
oh gosh why do we do it???? You are right it is pretty dam awesome despite all the above, to know we have created these gorgeous little humans is pretty fab. But yes they do my head in daily as do lunch boxes AHHHHH
Right, so when you say inhaling their Easter eggs, you mean eating them right? I’m always eating their Easter eggs and then spending ages trying to convince them that either they never had that one in the first place or they’d eaten it. It’s for their own good, health, health, health.
Nat.x
Yes!! But without stopping to chew!! I agree, it’s for their own health, like when I tell them they have to eat weetabix for breakfast & then have jam on toast!xx