The Hectic Life of a Parent

Whether you have one child or a dozen, it is always the same. There never seems to be enough time in the day to get everything done that you want to accomplish.

It starts in the morning. You are responsible for getting everyone out of bed, making sure they eat breakfast, and checking to see that everyone has what they need before they walk out the door . Then you either go to work or start on the day's chore. There is shopping to do, appointments to make, places to be. Life with kids is nonstop.

As a parent, you are everything to your child. You are nurse, counselor, referee, teacher, confidant, wizard, counselor, taxi driver, tailor, and any other thing that is needed. The demands on your time and energy are endless.

But, then they bring home a handmade mother or father's day card, tell their friends that you are the best parent in the world, get sick and curl up in your arms or simply smile and say I love you and in those moments you fill with pride and compassion and know that it is all worth it.

The best way to learn how to cope with the chaos of being a parent is to relax. Realize that not everything needs to be perfect. You can be late once in a while. You can leave the dust bunnies under the couch. You can say sorry to your child if you make a mistake. Remember that the perfect parent only exists on TV, in the movies, up on stage or in fiction novels and that, they are only perfect because some writer has made them that way.

Enjoy your kids. Get down on the floor and play with them. Go outside and play tag or catch a football. Bake a cake with your toddler. Get dirty. Just have fun.

Don't forget to take care of yourself. It is not a crime to put on the brakes when things get a little much. Make some time for yourself. Dont try to do everything alone. Make cleaning up the house a family affair. Make a deal with a friend or a family member to trade-off babysitting duties so that each of you can get away. Eat right and get enough sleep. You will be no good to anyone if you let yourself get run down.

The phone will always ring, the clothes and dishes will always need washed, someone will always have to be somewhere, the kids will always need something that is just is life as a parent. Relax and embrace the chaos.