The infectious cute stage of Phoebe's young journey began today. She lay on her back on my lap. I closed my eyes, pretended to snore loudly, then opened my eyes with a surprised expression.
What began as a "Heh" ("OK, Dad, I'm thinking about laughing.") quickly built on itself and turned into "Hehehehe" ("Dad, you're hysterical.") Like water cascading down rocks, Phoebe's laughter spilled over itself, the edges of her eyes crinkled up in a face-breaking chortle. It got the rest of us laughing in the process.
Parenting is a lot like that, whether you have a blended family like mine or not. It happens in fits and starts. On some days, you feel like you'll never get anywhere with your testy 5-year-old who wants the blankets on his bed to be flattened within 1 mm of perfection. You might not even get a smirk.
On other days, you feel as though you've made some good decisions and broken through to your children. You might share plenty of laughter. One positive interaction with your children begets another. Mutual understanding produces joy, which provides the energy to try a new activity or read another storybook or stay up a little past bedtime.
When I encounter those tough hours, I have to remind myself: By the time they're in bed tonight, I'm going to wish they were curled up in my lap asleep. And these moments are fleeting.
Recognize that parenting isn't a daylong sprint. It's a generational transition. If you play the long game, I guarantee your outlook day to day will be more positive, even though it won't ever be easy.
Build your parenting style moment by moment. It will grow and mature in ways you never dreamed possible. The giggles will see you through.
What began as a "Heh" ("OK, Dad, I'm thinking about laughing.") quickly built on itself and turned into "Hehehehe" ("Dad, you're hysterical.") Like water cascading down rocks, Phoebe's laughter spilled over itself, the edges of her eyes crinkled up in a face-breaking chortle. It got the rest of us laughing in the process.
Parenting is a lot like that, whether you have a blended family like mine or not. It happens in fits and starts. On some days, you feel like you'll never get anywhere with your testy 5-year-old who wants the blankets on his bed to be flattened within 1 mm of perfection. You might not even get a smirk.
On other days, you feel as though you've made some good decisions and broken through to your children. You might share plenty of laughter. One positive interaction with your children begets another. Mutual understanding produces joy, which provides the energy to try a new activity or read another storybook or stay up a little past bedtime.
When I encounter those tough hours, I have to remind myself: By the time they're in bed tonight, I'm going to wish they were curled up in my lap asleep. And these moments are fleeting.
Recognize that parenting isn't a daylong sprint. It's a generational transition. If you play the long game, I guarantee your outlook day to day will be more positive, even though it won't ever be easy.
Build your parenting style moment by moment. It will grow and mature in ways you never dreamed possible. The giggles will see you through.
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