Homespun Sweet: Why I'm Not a Happy Parent

That's ME! ~squawking at my kids.

Why I'm not a happy parent...

I now know why I'm not a happy parent, why WE are not happy with day to day life...

We live in a world of selfishness.

We live in a world of instant gratification.

We live in a world of "the next BIG thing." ~always looking to what is next, instead of being happy where we ARE.

We live in a world of "fast paced", "filled to the brim" schedules. ~feeling the need to ALWAYS be doing something.

I feel the guilt. The guilt that comes with not being able to give your children EVERYTHING you think they need.

The constant sea of emotions that comes with trying to keep your children HAPPY every second of the day, can crush parents like a tidal wave.

I am that parent; I feel that guilt, that frustration. I deal with the questions, "why can't we..." on a daily basis. The fact is, I screwed up. I DON'T need to keep my kids "happy, happy, happy," every second of the day. I don't need to take them to Disney every summer, or have a schedule with no free time to be bored. KIDS NEED TO SELF SOOTH; TO BE CREATIVE AND MAKE THEIR OWN FUN! They just NEED to KNOW they ARE LOVED!

I've learned this late, like "this morning" late. I JUST CAN'T TAKE THE GUILT ANYMORE!!!"

I try to show my kids LOVE every day; that is of course the MOST IMPORTANT. THERE'S NOTHING wrong with a full schedule or trips to Disney. Those parents also feel guilt and frustration in other areas. No one ever, ever says that "parenting is easy," and "I have got it all figured out."

I think we all agree on that.

So I'm gonna try, and fail, and try some more, to be a good parent, to get rid of the guilt. That guilt does NOT come from God!

As my kids grow older and older, I want to think that I'm training them and preparing them to be content. Contentment is different than happiness. I really think that being content is WAY MORE IMPORTANT than being HAPPY.