Raising Children: The Days go Slow but the Years Fly By

Raising children is one of the greatest joys in life. Watching your child walk for the first time, seeing them go on first dates, or even going on college tours are all part of the excitement of raising children.

The Days go By Slow

Ask most parents of young children, and most will say that each day is a challenge. Even the proudest mama can break down crying over the smallest issue if they haven’t slept a full night in months. The work you put in when children are babies and toddlers is rewarding, but it is hard. Sleepless nights and constantly being on call tends to make early parenthood stressful. Many parents never expect their child to have any problems growing up, but the reality is that many will have to figure out how to deal with problems that arise. Things such as peer pressure, bullying and self-esteem can usually be handled with at home. For bigger issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, you may need to consult a professional and find a prescription drug rehab in orange county.

The Years Fly By

When you are in the trenches, changing diapers or always trying to conquer a mountain of laundry, it’s hard to imagine life before having children. Many parents will tell you, they turned around, blinked, and their child was a teenager. When you are caught up in the day to day work of raising children, you can miss how fast time is really going.

When Empty-Nest Syndrome Occurs

The goal of successful parents is to raise independent, strong children who are going to leave the home when they become adults. It can be hard to let go as a parent, but it is a sure sign you did parenting well if your child feels ready to leave the nest. Empty-nest syndrome is very real for parents who no longer have children living in the home.

When you spend 20 years raising children, you are busy with their lives. When it’s time for your children to move out, you can find yourself suddenly with very little to do. This is a big transition for many parents and one that is often harder for stay at home parents.

Once Your Children are Adults

While your children growing up and moving out can be stressful, the next step in being a parent is getting to be a grandparent. Now, this may take ten years, maybe more, but it is likely that one of your children will produce grandchildren.

When you have grandchildren, this is when all of the hard work of parenting pays off. You get to be the fun place to visit. You can spoil your grandchildren and then send them home when they get cranky.

Once you are a grandparent, you also get to experience the joy of watching your child enjoy parenthood. You are a support network for your children, and you are part of the lives of your grandchildren. It’s a way to get to live through parenting once again, but with all the hard work. You can go dancing recitals, baseball games and any other activity your grandchildren do, but you don’t have to worry about getting them to practice.

Raising children is wonderful, and the years go by so fast. When your children are babies, just hold on. Soon they will be out of diapers, asking for the keys to the car and producing grandchildren for you to hold. While it may not seem possible that your children are going to grow up and move out someday, the time will come faster than you can imagine.