I love my kids, I just hate parenting
This post originally appeared on my Facebook page back in August. If you’ve already read it, skip to the end for new evelopments.
I had a job interview today. And I had to bring my toddler along.
Just kidding.
Mostly.
No matter what kind of parent you are, you struggle. Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or dad, a go-to-the-office parent, even a work from homer, raising kids is difficult and exhausting.
But each kind of parent has their own challenges, and on the latest episode of the Dad and Buried podcast, Pete and I chatted about all the different ones we face. With help from your comments (follow my Instagram stories to answer my topic-related questions and have your name called out!), we got into it. I’ve been a stay-at-home dad, it was not for me. But working parents don’t have it easy either.
Contrary to popular opinion, I don’t hate my kids.
In fact, some of the time, I downright love the little jerks! They’re fun in very specific, individual ways, which is delightful, and they’re annoying in mostly general, every-kid-is-like-that ways, which is forgivable.
But I do hate parenting, at least some of the time. It’s a tough gig. And referring to it as a “gig” is part of the problem. Because parenthood is not a job. And treating it like one – like a chore to begrudgingly complete – is bad for everyone.
Work sucks.
I like my job, I love my boss, but it’s still work. And work sucks! Especially when the alternative to work is a hanging with friends all weekend, or being on vacation, or enjoying retirement, or simply lying on the couch binge-watching TV shows.
But when the alternative is staying home with the kids all day? Work is the great escape.
A few weeks ago, I wrote something for Scary Mommy called “Can’t A SAHM Get a Little Love?”
It was about the need for working dads staying woke to the difficulties of being a stay-at-home mom, and to lend a hand when they get home. Because caring for children may not require going to an office, but that doesn’t mean it’s not hard work, and the least a working spouse can do is not add to the exhaustion, frustration, and stress when they get home.
But guess what? The 9-5 life ain’t no picnic either. Can’t working parents get a little love?