But Mommm: Frustration

by guest blogger, Deanna Cogdon Miller

There is no emotion that is more powerful or overwhelming than the love we have for our kids. I’ve said it before – it’s all-consuming and indescribable. We watch them intently and think about how adorable they are. We listen to every sound they make, every new word they try and every song they sing like we’ve never heard them before. We spend our lives tending to their every need – making sure they’re clothed, fed, happy, fulfilled, learning, active and secure. We share funny anecdotes, milestones and with the exception of the odd tantrum story, we stay pretty positive when talking about our parenting experiences publicly.

But in reality, the day-to-day parenting routine isn’t all sunshine and roses. With different ages and stages come different frustrations. These are the things that try our patience, that may cause the tone in our voices to change and that sometimes lead us to say things in our heads that we would never say out loud. So keeping in mind that my kids are all under five, here are my top eight minor parenting frustrations: 

1. The Back Arch. Your toddler decides they do not want in their car seat so they arch to prevent you from sitting them down and doing up buckles. As this is happening, they are generally screaming at the top of their lungs. 98 per cent of the time this occurs when you are in a rush.

2. Spit, shove & spill. I don’t like this so I will spit it all over the place. I don’t want this anymore so I will shove it off my plate or off the counter. I am done so I will spill the rest on the floor.

3. The Poopy Diaper Roll. You’re in the middle of changing a nasty one and your child decides they’re done waiting so they roll. In an instant the mess potential of this diaper change quadruples – legs in one hand, frantic wiping with the other. The floor rarely makes it unscathed.

4.  I-don’t-wanna-be-put-down-and-I-will-cry-with-outstretched-arms-every-time-you-try days. Self-explanatory.

5. Dirty is the new clean. A mopped floor is sticky and smudged again after the next meal. Pieces of one toy live in five different places. Lining books up neatly on shelves is a rookie mistake.

6. Grooming drama. Wouldn’t it be great if bathrooms had a gate that held kids in and only went up after the soap dispenser had been activated and the tap turned off? Why don’t kids understand that licking toothpaste is not the same as brushing teeth? I could write an entire blog on hairbrushing.

7.  The Unsuccessful Sneak-Out. It’s dark and you think you’ve finally got them back to sleep. They are still, their breathing seems calm and you’ve successfully moved from back-rubbing, to just resting your hand on their back, to not touching them at all. You slowly back away from the crib or bed and quietly step out the door. Just as you breathe a sigh of relief you hear the dreaded sheet rustle followed by very loud crying or someone calling for you…again.

8. Dish Disputes. You’ve just served up your child’s favourite meal and when it’s placed in front of them they immediately start crying because it’s on an orange plate instead of a green one. Or it’s a plain fork and not a Dora one. Or you gave them the water they asked for instead of the milk they meant to ask for.

The British government unknowingly created a perfect parenting motto with a poster that was actually developed at the beginning of the Second World War to raise morale in the event of an invasion.  As these minor frustrations come up, all we can do is “Keep Calm and Carry On”.

Deanna is a Mom of three, wife, marketer and blogger – lover of travel, morning coffee, family time, belly laughs, good friends and uninterrupted showers! Follow her on twitter @DeannaCMiller