1. Five years into both of them, plastic surgery is your only way of looking young again.
2. There's only one boss, and it's best if that's you.
3. In both, you have to handle a lot of crap.
4. Both require deep breathing.
5. Time Outs are encouraged--especially for Mom (psych wards stays count for this).
6. Both feel like you're being pecked to death by a bird.
7. You must learn on the spot--pop quizzes are thrown at you every half-hour.
8. Both drive you insane (of course).
9. Both are full of surprises and force you to tear up any script you may have written (how things were supposed to go).
10. They require a support system, discipline, and a ton of self-control.
11. You have to get out of bed in the morning for both.
12. Bedtime often spells relief.
13. Both take a chunk out your heart but give it back to your soul.
14. You never graduate from or complete your responsibilities.
15. You get used to frozen dinners, canned soup, and spats with your spouse.
16. You must sort out tons of advice, much of it horribly shallow and not at all useful.
17. Both benefit from lots of sunshine and time at the park.
18. They are tolerated best with a sense of humor.
19. Both can make you fat if you're not careful.
20. They are more challenging to the soul than the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. (I don't think he was either.)
21. A bad day of either is more physically exhausting than an Olympic-distance triathlon.
22. After only a few years they transform you into a more compassionate and loving human being, possibly a candidate for a Nobel Peace Prize.
23. With them comes a lot of wisdom and patience, possibly world peace.
24. A love for your kid(s) keeps you going through both.
25. You have to strike that difficult balance between keeping busy but not too busy.
26. The mornings and evenings are typically the hardest.
27. Stress complicates thing. Best to avoid it as much as possible.
28. Comparing yourself to others will paralyze you.
29. There's no going back.
30. Your best is all you have, and that's good enough.
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Think on number 22 when you're tempted to feel like you've "let David down!" How many kids get to see their Moms as capable of overcoming ANYTHING?
Mental illness is not really a topic from which to squeeze a smile, let alone a laugh. Ask anyone who has to live with it, or with someone who has it, 24/7.
Amen!!!! I don't have little ones at home now, I am in that blessed place in life called grandparenting. But I remember, and it is so true. Thanks for sharing!
I really loved this! How true how it all is. Kids are the love of your life It's DEFINATLEY not an easy job. Anyone that has kids knows how it takes your heart completely. And sometimes it can break your heart. But it's a love that is indiscribable. I thank God for my kids - even when they are driving me nuts !
That was funny. I'd like to see the list about the love for the dogs. Truly, my pets have been the love of my life too. Truly, they have and are my heart!
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