When you first become a parent, you have all these ideas about how it’s going to go. Then… reality.
Here’s what I’ve learned in 10+ years of parenting — the stuff that actually works for our family.
1. Be Painfully Specific
“Do you know where your shoes are?” will get you a confident “YES”… even if one shoe is in the backyard and the other is under the couch.
Now I ask:
“Do you have eyes on both shoes?”
Game changer.
2. Dinner Is Not a Restaurant
Everyone’s picky. If they don’t like what’s on the table, they can make something themselves (if they're old enough.)
I’m not juggling three dinners like a short-order cook.
3. Laundry? Not My Circus
Mike does laundry now. I don’t ask questions—I just quietly thank the laundry gods.
4. Self-Care Is Not Instagram-Worthy
It’s a bubble bath, a rare haircut, pulling weeds in the garden, or letting my husband take over when I’m about to lose it because I'm overstimulated, or my anxiety’s running the show.
5. Pick Your Battles
You can’t win every argument, and you’ll lose your sanity trying.
Decide what’s worth standing your ground on — and let the rest go.
6. Screens in Public Are a Sometimes Tool
We don’t let our kids live on devices in public… except when dinner is taking forever, everyone’s restless, and we just need to survive until the bill comes and we’ve already played Eye Spy 20 million times.
7. We're Not Royalty
Paper plates = fine dining.
Dinner missing a food group? Totally cool.
Car full of Goldfish crumbs? Normal.
Will my kids remember this? Maybe.
But what they’ll remember more is eating off paper plates on the patio because we spent all day playing together in the pool.
8. Love and Grace Matter Most
Date nights are rare, but we forgive quickly, say “I love you” daily and every time we hang up the phone (no matter what), and laugh together. We keep our mistletoe up 365 days a year and we dance in the kitchen.
Bonus: Accept the Chaos
Sometimes you’ll lose the TV remote for weeks… and eventually find it outside in the bin of dog toys.
There’s no deeper meaning here — that’s just parenting.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, if your kids are safe, happy, healthy, loved, and growing up to be good humans — you’re doing great.
Time goes by too quickly to worry about being perfect. ❤️
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