Sunday, July 28, 2013

Life with Young Kids - The Truth

I just couldn't pass up this week's Monday Listicles topic, "10 photos from life with kids."  I have a number of friends who are on the verge of becoming parents or have recently had babies and I thought I'd take this opportunity to impart a few words of wisdom.  You're welcome!

Truths about life with young kids: 

You know how, when you look at other people's kids, and they have snot running down their upper lip and food all over their face, and you think, "I will NEVER let my kids walk around like that?"  The thing is, you will.  And you'll find them irresistibly adorable, even when their noses are snotty and they're covered in sticky food debris.  Sometimes even more so.




They'll give you this look. Frequently.

photo by Adam Schwartz

But then this look will follow closely on its heels, and you'll forget everything else, at least for a few minutes.

They'll come at you like this, especially when you're wearing something brand new and/or white.



They'll try to steal your beer. And your keys. And your phone. The TV remote.  And occasionally your dignity.

photo by Adam Schwartz

You will spend far too many hours of your life trying to dissuade them from eating dirt/sand/gravel/rocks, drinking from dirty sesspools, and generally endangering themselves and others.  It's kind of exhausting.


You will do whatever you can to help them pursue their interests, even when those change more often than their clothes.



They'll make you see the world through new eyes.


They'll make you see their co-creator through new eyes.


They'll teach you more about yourself than you learned in the entire first thirty-odd years of your life before they came along.


The truth?  The truth is, life with kids, while beautiful and fulfilling, is also messy, chaotic, and quite often even uncomfortable. Let's face it, it ain't all unicorns and rainbows. But we parents must be eternal optimists. (Either that, or complete fools.) Because somehow, the unicorn-rainbow moments are the ones that stay with us.


14 comments:

  1. This is gorgeous...the pictures and the words.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great shots! I'm currently living in the uncomfortable stage, but should be at the chaotic/sleep deprived stage when family member #4 arrives in about six weeks. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah yes, the unmistakable discomfort of the final trimester. Good luck with the new arrival and I hope you are able to enjoy every beautiful, chaotic, sleep-deprived moment, knowing how quickly they fly by. Cheers!

      Delete
  3. great photos babe and great job capturing all those moments... YES...it's tough being a parent, but you said it right...despite all the tough and crazy moments, we always remember the good ones and spin the bad into good ones too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. True that! Even the ones that totally suck while you are living them end up being made into funny stories to share with the mommy group or over a glass of wine with the girls. Cheers to motherhood!

      Delete
  4. These are gorgeous and your comments are true. It is kind of exhausting, right? :) Ellen

    ReplyDelete
  5. fabulous shots! too much adorableness - even the messy kind - on one page!
    and truer words were never spoken my friend! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I LOVE these photos! The beer and dirt are my life:)And the tree photo is certainly to bee blown up!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love this! And as I read it, my one year old got my eyeliner pencil...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL ...and did what with it? ;) I hope you caught him before he did too much damage!

      Delete
  8. I'm loving this Amanda! Sometimes the messier days are the ones that create the best memories (or at least make for some cute photos)!

    ReplyDelete
  9. One of my favorite posts of yours for sure. xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yes, dignity!! Beautiful photos. The ballet one is a print must!!

    ReplyDelete

Comments: I love 'em. Tell me what you think!

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...