Motherhood is the Hardest Job

Being a parent isn't easy, its filled with trials and tribulations that lead to extreme frustration. We want the best for our kids, we want to be perfect, and yet, we fall short. Parents are only human, we make mistakes and feel guilt over it for years. We second guess our decisions, we bend over backwards to make our kids happy, only to feel unappreciated and taken for granted.

My oldest is just hitting the pre-teen years, it feels like he's been there forever. My youngest is always demanding more and more of everything and anything. Some days I feel like no matter what I do, it's not enough. I've come up short and I've missed the boat. The constant demands of this blood sucking duo at times can leave me empty. Yet, when I think I have nothing left to give they say, "Thank you mom, I love you" and I find that my bucket is full to the brim with so much more to give them.

Everyday is filled with decisions affecting our family. We try hard to put on a facade of perfection to those outside, but it's a lie. Every family, no matter how perfect they look, has problems, issues, and make mistakes. Trying to be perfect causes more stress and problems than just admitting you're human. Every family yells, hurts each others feelings, makes bad decisions, wants more, needs more, and find themselves in situations they never thought they'd be in.

What all parents need to do is give themselves a break. Kids grow up to be who they choose to be and as long as you did your best, you loved them, and were there to support them when they needed you - you were the perfect parent. As long as you didn't beat them, abuse them, or misuse them, you were the perfect parent.

So parents pick up the phone and call your parents and say "Thank you for being the perfect parents." After all, we were kids once and weren't the easiest little people to raise. Forgive the little mistakes and frustrations you have with your parents because guess what - you're making mistakes and frustrating your kids now.

Write about something you did as a kid that upset your parents.

• Write it from your point of view

• Write it from your parents point of view

Did you learn something about the event?

How does being on a parent's side of the story change your perception of what happened?

Did you cast yourself as the hero, the victim, the villain, observer, or bystander of the story?