Parenting Hurts So Good
I always underestimated the challenges of parenting. I thought that the moans and groans of parents were highly exaggerated. The baby sleeps, eats, poops – end of story, right?
Wrong. The baby grows up, gains independence and strength, and ultimately begins to talk, socialize, and test boundaries.
Parenting is hard and even more so, parenting hurts.
Parenting hurts when your child falls, scrapes a knee, breaks an arm, or chips a tooth. We feel the pain running through our own bodies, desperately wanting to fix it for our child.
Parenting hurts when your child cries after being teased, ostracized, singled out, or ignored by another child. We want to take away the emotional pain because as grown ups, we know that it is something we take to heart and never forget.
Parenting hurts when your child tries like hell to achieve something and fails, or falls below average. We want to see him or her rise above the rest and feel the pride we felt with our own successes.
As a parent, I know that parenting is hard. There are times when we doubt our abilities as parents, re-think our actions, our words. Parenting hurts when you feel as if you’ve failed, failed to make your child happy, failed to show them the right path, and failed to set an example.
Ironically, in the next minute, as parents, we get to see our children smile, laugh, succeed, and live healthy productive lives.
Forever we will absorb the hurt our children feel – physically, socially and emotionally – but with the pain comes the joy. Parenting never hurt so good.
– Shannon Philpott
Blog Entry: Sept. 30, 2009
© Shannon Philpott, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Shannon Philpott and shannonphilpott.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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About Me
Three words to describe me? Passionate. Motivated. Curious. These traits help me as a college media adviser and professor, freelance writer, author and mom. From student journalism and higher education to parenting and freelance writing, this site, focused on writing, reflecting and teaching, offers a mix of blogs with a hint of humor, sarcasm, and inspiration, as well as my published stories on just about every possible topic.
Feel free to browse my sample works including feature news, magazine, and web copywriting pieces from the past and present. You can also pick up my new book “Screen-Free Fun: 400 Activities for the Whole Family” now available. Check back often for daily updates, blog entries, and additional stories. Feel free to contact me directly at shphilpott@gmail.com, follow me on Twitter, or grab tips for Screen-Free Fun on our Facebook page. Comments are welcome!
Shannon Philpott-Sanders 
I could never express myself like you do through words. This is exactly what so many parents think and go through. Everything you said above is exactly how I feel but could never put into words. You have a gift. I love you. Thank you for keeping me going…..