“It gets easier.”
Nope. I don’t believe it. Not anymore, at least. But I honestly don’t remember anyone telling me this lie recently.
Oh, things definitely change, and I don’t really think they’ve gotten worse. I mean, I haven’t run away yet. I still have days when I cry. I still have days when my calm seems like a distant memory. I still have pretty fantastic days, too.
Every day has its own struggle. Some are small, like our lingering toilet-training hurdle. Some are gigantic, like the day I tried twice to leave the house with ETC and had nothing to show for my effort but two wasted hours, a dirty outfit – shoes included – and too many time outs.
So, no. I don’t think this job gets any easier. I think the returns get greater (Toby said to me yesterday, unsolicited, “You’re the best mama ever!”), and experience helps tackle some difficulties, but the overall business of parenting is continously really, really hard.
Yes, the hard changes and sometimes you’re just betterequipped to handle the next challenge. But the payoffs are awesome too. <3
I’m obviously not a mom (sigh), but my mom always told me “Little kids, little problems… big kids, big problems.” She never told me it gets easier as kids grow up. She told me the problems just change.
Some parents handle different stages better than other stages and some KIDS are better during some stages than others. No kid/family is alike.
Me? I was a HORRIBLE seven year old. So emotional and cry-y at the drop of a hat and OMG THE WORLD WAS ENDING EACH DAY. I was nearly a perfect angel as a teenager.
((hugs)) You’ll get through this. Not because it gets easier but because… you love those kids and you have no other choice (ha!)
My SIL says the same thing. She was at the tail end of parenting just as we were starting out, so she had the benefit of experience. My kids are still relatively young but I’m finding that to be true. For example, you don’t really have to try to explain the tough things to a two-year-old because whatever answer you give is taken as gospel truth. Almost 11-year-olds require more.
Yes. Yes. Yes! Things are different but certainly not easier. I sometimes look at parents with kids in carriers and know they think they’ve got it tough. They might yearn for their kids to talk or walk so it will be easier. And, yet, when Miles walks and talks – in public – it’s not always fun. Like when he tells me not to tell him no and runs away. Of course, maybe I’ll think this part is easy when he’s sassying his teachers.
“It” gets easier and “it” gets harder – just depends on what you define “it” as.
Three is so SO hard!!! I can’t tell you how much it gets easier, even just at 3.5.
I do have to say getting a little more sleep, being able to reason things through, and having use of both arms makes me feel better about things!
In one of those weird life coincidence things, I met Whitney from Rookie Moms in real life last week while traveling for work in SF. Rookie Moms actually hosted a twins week and they asked me to write a post as an older mom of twins.
Here are my thoughts on whether it gets easier, totally forgot I wrote this 2+ years ago!!
http://www.rookiemoms.com/twins-week-beyond-the-rookie-years/