I do a lot of reading about parenting topics, but my favorite kind of research is the old fashioned informal office poll. I recently asked the other parents in the room, “What is the toughest age or phase to parent?” I got a wide range of answers. Some begrudged the stubborn toddler years and others said they’d be fine skipping the emotional teenage outbursts. My favorite answer was “the one you’re in.” I think it’s true. There are challenges to every age and stage.
Parenting is hard and is sometimes best described as a grind. It’s hard to be patient when your child is melting down in the grocery store. It’s heartbreaking to listen to a kid vent about having nobody to sit with at lunch. No matter which part of childhood you’re navigating, there always seems to be something making it incredibly hard. On those days, you can find joy in the grind if you know what to say. Here are 5 one-liners to repeat when parenting becomes a grind.
