Things I Can't Say

Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom

  • Home
  • About
  • Best Of
  • Recipes
  • PR & Advertising
  • Contact

February 11, 2011 by: Shell

Blog Friend Feature: The Parenting Paradox

You know when you are reading blogs and you come across a blog and think I want my blog to be just like that when it grows up.  That was what I thought when I found this week’s Blog Friend Feature.  Hers was one of the very first blogs that I started following when I started blogging.

Meet Angie from Seven Clown Circus.  I so relate to her stories about parenting. What I really love about her is that she writes funny posts and serious posts: but it’s always her voice coming through.  She is also the host of Wordful Wednesdays, so if you like to show off your pics but have to write about them, too, you should link up with her.  I was so excited when she agreed to be BFF this week because I know that you will love her.

Parenting is a paradox. I really believe that.

I’ve been a mother for 11 years now, which seems like such a long time.

And at other times not so long at all.

I feel like I’ve aged about a million years in that time, yet I feel younger now than ever.

See what I mean? πŸ™‚

I thought I’d have buckets of free time when my children went off to school. I have less time now than I’ve ever had in my life.

I was told countless times how life gets busier once the kids go to school. I didn’t buy it. It didn’t make sense to me. I thought that nothing could be more time consuming that mothering babies and toddlers. And, really, nothing is. I didn’t understand that by busy they meant that they’d be hard pressed to find any block of time for themselves because they’d be scheduled here there and everywhere. I didn’t comprehend that the chauffeuring, homeworking helping, dinner making, extra curricular shuffling, social calendaring, volunteering, roll would take so much time. I didn’t realize that mothering older children can be as taxing as mothering infants. Just in a different way.

I’ve found that some things are harder, but some things are so much easier. Like going out with my children without bottles, diapers, strollers and that emergency change of clothing.

I guess the main thing I’ve found about parenting is that it doesn’t always make sense, but it’s worth it.

And of course, parenting is a paradox.

The End.


And here I was hoping that Angie would tell us that it was all going to get easier. SIGH.
Please leave her some comment love here and then go follow Seven Clown Circus.
Pour Your Heart Out: When Your Child Is Different
Comfortable and Stylish Spring Clothing

Comments

  1. Sorta Southern Single Mom says

    February 11, 2011 at 8:16 am

    Yup, that pretty much sums it up!

  2. K Pugliano says

    February 11, 2011 at 8:19 am

    All true.

    Glad you are Shell's BFF!! Going to your site now! πŸ™‚

  3. Jessica says

    February 11, 2011 at 8:36 am

    Oh I was hoping the same, I was waiting for her to say that we get to sit around all day in our pjs drinking coffe and blog reading until the bus returns. Great BFF.

  4. Joey @ Big Teeth and Clouds says

    February 11, 2011 at 8:46 am

    I think we're in it for the long haul. Of course, everything is easier with one.

  5. Jessica says

    February 11, 2011 at 8:48 am

    I will have to stop by for Wordful Wednesday because…well, my Wordless Wednesday posts are always filled with words! πŸ™‚

    NO, please say it isn't so. I thought for sure when we get past the toddler stage that it will be smooth sailing. My almost 3 year old keeps my hopping to say the least. But, I only have one and plan on keeping it that way, so hopefully that will be a bit more manageable.

    Great post!

  6. Angie says

    February 11, 2011 at 8:54 am

    Love Angie! (And not just because we have the same name) Her blog rocks! Great BFF Shell!

  7. JDaniel4's Mom says

    February 11, 2011 at 9:17 am

    She is such a wise lady!

  8. Oka says

    February 11, 2011 at 9:58 am

    I would totally have to agree with this post.

  9. angie-sevenclowncircus says

    February 11, 2011 at 10:06 am

    Thank you so much for having me, Shell, and for the kind comments that everyone has left. So fun to be Shell's BFF today!

  10. heidi @ wonder woman wannabe says

    February 11, 2011 at 10:15 am

    What a sweet compliment, Shell. πŸ™‚

    I've just had the pleasure of connecting with Angie through SITS!

    You've got it – parenting IS a paradox!

  11. Megan (Best of Fates) says

    February 11, 2011 at 10:19 am

    Parenting is a Paradox. I mean, doesn't that just SCREAM to be a #1 rap single?

    Angie, I'm looking at you.

  12. Christy says

    February 11, 2011 at 10:30 am

    aw man, I was totally living by hoping to have more time when my kids get in school … :-/ guess I'll just have to change 'school' to college, lol

    btw … i totally want to be just like your blog when i grow up!

  13. Laura @SuperGlueMom says

    February 11, 2011 at 11:16 am

    OH SO TRUE!! I thought that when my kids would enter school I would have so much more free time too!! Love your blog. thanks for sharing. πŸ™‚
    laura http://www.supergluemom.com

  14. Julie says

    February 11, 2011 at 11:19 am

    Maybe it's a good thing I haven't completely signed-on for this motherhood thing yet. πŸ˜‰

    Great feature… love Angie!

  15. Renegades says

    February 11, 2011 at 11:36 am

    This post is so true. Just when you think it's going to get easier it gets busier.

  16. Kristin says

    February 11, 2011 at 11:54 am

    Since I have both(babies and teens), I haven't realized this. It's just always been the same, busy, with no hope of any free time anytime soon.

    Good post Angie.

  17. Sue says

    February 11, 2011 at 12:34 pm

    Yes. I agree. I'm about where you are in the mommyhood experience…out of the bottles and diaper chaos and into the chauffeuring/volunteering chaos. I'm told it gets even more unreal when our cherubs become teenagers. Keeps it interesting, no?

  18. MommaKiss says

    February 11, 2011 at 12:51 pm

    Love your BFFs. Obvs! I have clicked around to her before but been ages. I'm going back!

  19. Mama Zen says

    February 11, 2011 at 1:28 pm

    You are so right about the time suck!

  20. Nicole says

    February 11, 2011 at 1:31 pm

    This is SO true Angie! I think Jordan is WAY more work than the twins at the moment. I also agree with the "I feel older, yet younger than ever" comment. It's absolutely the truth. The great thing is, we get better with age. πŸ™‚

  21. Jennie @ Modern Mamaz says

    February 11, 2011 at 1:37 pm

    Yay, I love finding new blogs… on my way over!

  22. Daisygirl says

    February 11, 2011 at 1:56 pm

    that is the most awesome saying ever…parenting is a paradox…amen!

    although I can't wait to not have to have a pull up and sippy cup in my purse!

  23. Emmy says

    February 11, 2011 at 2:29 pm

    Shoot! And I was so looking forward to when all of my kids were in school πŸ™‚

  24. Sonora says

    February 11, 2011 at 3:01 pm

    I was hoping she would say it got easier too. I keep thinking it HAS to get easier. I loved this post and I love the part about parenting being a paradox. I think that is so true!

  25. Daffy says

    February 11, 2011 at 4:03 pm

    I'm finding that I don't really care. I keep hearing that it doesn't get easier…and I find that at the end of the day when the laundry is STILL scattered all over the place, the kitchen a mess with dirty dishes and clean ones mixed in, the dog stinks, the diaper pail stinks, the trash is sitting infront of the garage door but somehow not made it into the garage, bills are past due, the beds haven't been made in weeks and who knows when the sheets were last changed, the pantry shelves are pretty sparse and there is enough playdough stuck to the carpet that it now resembles a kindercare activity mat but I have an uber cool whatchamcallit thingiemabober for my uh yeah…. I don't care. I love it. I don't mind that its tough. If it was easier it wouldn't be worth it. If it was easier it wouldn't be parenting. If it was easier, everyone could do this day in and day out and then where would the satisfaction be? Would I appreciate as deeply the giggles? The cuddle time? The lines the vacuum makes when I actually find time to use it?

    Awesome post! I love visiting your blog

  26. DaisyGal says

    February 11, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    it was a wonderful post and I because I am still the mother of preschoolers (3 yr old twins) I want to believe that it HAS to get better, easier, quieter, but I also see that it doesn't, and that's ok with me. I suffered through infertility hoping for a child , I got 2 and more love in my heart than i could imagine, I also had to get a lot more patience, and imagination. But it's all worth it…Right?

    Great post!!!!!!

  27. blueviolet says

    February 11, 2011 at 4:34 pm

    Angie will always be special to me, because she was one of the first bloggers I met, and she actually encouraged me to start mine. She is a genuinely nice person with a heart of gold. I love her!

  28. Liz says

    February 11, 2011 at 6:48 pm

    My world keeps colliding with Angie lately!

    Great choice for a BFF!

  29. Galit Breen says

    February 11, 2011 at 7:07 pm

    Love the post, love the BFF-ness of it all and love the word "paradox." Why? Don't know. Just do. Well done, ladies! XO

  30. Adrienne says

    February 11, 2011 at 7:33 pm

    It doesn't make sense does it? I'm off to check her blog out. πŸ˜‰

  31. Flying Giggles and Lollipops says

    February 11, 2011 at 9:44 pm

    Me too! I was really hoping it gets easier.

    Love Angie's blog too!

  32. ModernMom says

    February 11, 2011 at 10:57 pm

    Ohh so true. Doesn't get easier, but different:)

  33. Crystal says

    February 11, 2011 at 11:06 pm

    Yep that pretty much sums it up. I've been a mama for just over 12 years…when does it start getting easier??! And "free" time is an urban legend!!

  34. Practical Parenting says

    February 11, 2011 at 11:28 pm

    Wait…does this mean I won't be exercising more when they're in school (the bar is set low, anything is better than never!)? It's so true, you just grow out of one stage and enter another! Happy to meet another BFF of Shell…she has the greatest!

  35. Aphrodite's Mortal Friend says

    February 11, 2011 at 11:49 pm

    Well … yea, I suppose it is a paradox … funny thing is I;ve been sittin ghere for like 5 WHOLE minutes trying to figure out what to say but my brain keeps wrapping around too many thoughts to focus on one … or two … so, I guess thanks for point out the new blog for me to check out- I totally know what you you mean by "when my blog grows up" OH, and Fashion Week is a bit of a paradox too!

  36. Dysfunctional Mom says

    February 12, 2011 at 2:02 am

    I love Angie! I have been reading her forever it seems like. She is awesome (and gorgeous!).

  37. Making It Work Mom says

    February 12, 2011 at 1:03 pm

    So true! Not as much maintenance with the older ones, but just as much work!

  38. Mrs4444 says

    February 12, 2011 at 9:12 pm

    I can relate! Now that I have just one at home, I'm happy to catch my breath. Soon, she'll be driving herself, and I could get bored! (not)

  39. Cori says

    February 13, 2011 at 2:26 am

    I dont think it ever gets easier, it just gets different πŸ˜€

  40. tracy says

    February 13, 2011 at 7:43 am

    Perfect way to phrase it. The thing about parenting is once you think you have it figure out, it changes.

  41. cornflakegirl74 says

    February 13, 2011 at 7:53 pm

    Great choice for a BFF! I have heard this, though I would hope for all your mommies that the chaos would die down a bit as the kids get older. I dunno how you all do it, but you're all supermommies to me πŸ™‚

    Hope you are all enjoying the weekend!

  42. Goodnight moon says

    February 15, 2011 at 8:28 pm

    It's so true! I keep telling myself that once ALL my kids are in school, I'll be able to do what I want during the day. But now that I have 2 at school and 2 at home…my days are ANYTHING but for myself. Granted, I know I still have 2 at home, but my days are SPENT!

    I'm heading over to visit her blog now!

  43. MommyLovesStilettos says

    February 17, 2011 at 12:03 am

    Love this post! πŸ™‚

Welcome to Things I Can't Say: Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom. I'm Shell. Boy mom, beach girl, bookworm, ball games, baker, brand ambassador, Thinking yoga, food, and travel should start with "b," too. Finding the easiest way to do some things while overthinking so many others. Read More…

Be a Part of the Sisters’ Hood

alt text SoFab Badge
Everywhere
  • Contact
  • PR & Advertising

© 2021 · Designed by: Carolyn Yalin