Pet Peeves As A Parent.

Found HERE

Parenting is notoriously frustrating and an extremely underrated career (because let's be honest here, parenting never stops). It's filled with moments of "seriously?!", "HOW?!", and "AHHHHHHHHHHH". 

Don't get me wrong, it's beyond worth it and I'm truly grateful for my opportunity to be a parent, but sometimes [like we all] I get to my almost breaking point and burst with relief when my padawan is asleep.

Today was a very typical day and nothing out of the ordinary happened except for the fact that I began to notice how much I've changed as a human, just being a mom. I feel this stands true for almost everyone in a wide variety of aspects, but we don't step back often enough to evaluate our self progression through each trying time in our lives.

To be honest, I think if we did we'd stop beating ourselves up and hanging ourselves mentally. 

I had just sat on my couch, coffee in hand, muffin ready to be devoured, when my precious spawn waltzed out of his room to ask me a very important question: "Can you make me something else to eat?"

You see, I had already made him a breakfast before I sat down to enjoy mine, because I know if I didn't he'd be staring me down while I took each and every bite. Trust me, it's just better for everyone. Besides this is a naturalistic habit of parents, kids first. Well apparently he had devoured it and requested a second breakfast (can you tell he's my kid?). 

I proceed to look at my coffee with such sadness, as I hadn't even taken a sip yet, then sat it on the coffee table and went to the kitchen to prepare something else for the precious prince. 

While I was whipping up something, I heard him say "can I have some muffin?". 

Let me explain something. I have pet peeves, just like all of you I'm sure. One of them [really most of them] has to do with food and a HUGE one someone else taking the first bite of my food. It's rude and just plain morally wrong in my book!

I mean, how can you sit there and enjoy that first precious bite (which can never be repeated with that particular plate) of MY food?! You monster. Of course I couldn't say that to my little padawan, so as I gritted my teeth I said "sure honey" in the calmest voice possible. 

I came back into the living room to find that he had indeed stuffed a huge portion of my muffin in to his mouth. So I simply said, "you can have it", only to be greeted with a "thanks momma!".

Thanks. I had to endure my pet peeve, watch my muffin basically walk away, be kept from my coffee, and all with a smile. That's something I never thought I'd be able to do. I nodded and said, "good job" to myself and realized that I am constantly progressing in a positive way. I'm being pushed by someone who has me by their pinkie and I truly think that's the only way that I'm able to push past these frustrating moments as a person. 

It's this that has led me to stop being my own worst enemy. 

Every night before bed when I'm unwinding, I immediately push my mind to a positive state and force myself to replay the day and think of what I've learned. Where have I grown and where can I do better. 

My advice to you is this: Stop beating yourself up, stop crucifying your habits, stop wishing you did better. Focus on what you've completed and what you've progressed from everyday. You might be surprised to find that you've accomplished more than meets the eye.