“Parenting Is The Hardest Job In The World.” – WHY?

Posted on November 30, 2016

Here’s a statement that we all have made at some point in time while parenting. Some more often than others. But why is it that the most gratifying experience of our life is often awarded the “hardest job in the world” title?

Henry Ford said, “Thinking is the hardest work there is…” Parenthood is all about not just thinking but also feeling, not to mention all the physical labor that goes into it. It’s a Whole Body experience. 🙂 Our children and our concerns for their well-being challenge our physical abilities, our intellect, and our emotions. There are constant questions: from what diapers and formula to choose, to what vaccines they need, to how will they deal with the separation anxiety in preschool, to how will they respond to peer pressure in high school, to what college will be the right fit for them, to will they pick the right partner to spend their lives with, to will they know how to put their careers aside to make their children a priority, to will they be around to take care of us?

All of the above arise from a deep concern that I and all parents have about the CHOICES that they will (or will not!) make to benefit the new growth phases of their lives. The truth is that the more we think about our children and their future the harder it is for us. By worrying so much about them, we lose all this precious time that we could be spending enjoying the experience of parenthood. The “JOB” is not as hard as the “WORRYING” that nearly always comes with it.

Dear Parents,

1. Do the best job you can do. Children will learn best by example. We are all the products of our environment. Focus on providing them a good, healthy, nurturing environment as best as you can.

2. Mis-takes are takes that are missed. They will be plenty more opportunities to make right if you or they have wronged sometimes. Mistakes are made to learn from. Keep the big question, “What can be learned from this?” right by any mistake that they or you make.

3.When worry strikes you, LET GO and FLOW. Know that, just like you made it this far, they will too. We tend to rob ourselves of being present by allowing our brains to over-think into the future.

~Allow the future to arrive at its own pace, unfurling its secrets when it will~

4. Treasure this gift of life and this role of parenting and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! As Neil Postman said, “Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.” They are our messengers of love.

5. LAUGH out loud with them. Laughter magically pops suppressed emotions, yours and theirs.

6. Tell them you love them. EVERYDAY! There is no stronger affirmation than “I love you,” especially when you’re mad at them. Love heals!

At the end of life, we are remembered by the relationships that we leave behind. Gravestones read “mother, father, daughter, son, wife…” not “CEO, customer service representative, President or homemaker”… it’s all about the relationships and amongst relationships, the words “mother,” “father,” or “child” come first. Because as hard as parenting might seem now, it is the most profound, concrete, gratifying, trying, and important job you’ll ever do.

Live your present with a clear perspective of the end and you’ll replace the words “hardest job in the world” with the “most loving job in the world” in a jiffy.

In Joy!