I love my kids, I just hate parenting
A few weeks ago, I questioned whether I am a good parent. My answer was no.
Both before and since I posted that piece, I’ve been told I’m a good dad, by family members, by online acquaintances, by total strangers who read my blog and follow my Facebook page.
But I don’t believe the hype.
Not because they’re wrong; despite my hand-wringing, I’m probably a pretty good dad. (And even if I’m not, it probably doesn’t matter.)
Because they have no idea.
![[Image] Circle Jerks](https://i0.wp.com/dadandburied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/8426737818_8c811fee23.jpg?resize=500%2C233&ssl=1)
For this week’s edition of Wordless Wednesday, I created a VERY scientific diagram, in which I’ve categorized a few varieties of obnoxious people in order to determine where their behavior overlaps.
Turns out our kids are the biggest circle jerks of all!
On Friday, I wrote about our tendency, as parents, to overvalue our impact on our kids.
We wring our hands over every little thing we do wrong, terrified that the slightest misstep will set our kids on the wrong path. But once you consider how many other influences are out there, you realize that such micromanagement – of our parenting, of their lives – is impossible.
I can’t get my son to do the littlest things right now, why should I think I have the power to get him to do big things when he’s older? I’m all out of control.
I’m kind of a big deal. But you already knew that. I mean, I’m regularly featured on Scary Mommy.
Of course, even if I weren’t a world-renowned blogger whose diatribes about how living with children is like being in prison have been translated into multiple languages and who has subsequently been hated-on by people on multiple continents, I’d still be pretty damn important. Because I’m a parent.
And if kids are our most valuable resource, then parents are priceless.
Except we’re not. Because parents are overrated.
![[E-card] The Parenting Paradox](https://i0.wp.com/dadandburied.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/paradox.jpg?resize=500%2C233&ssl=1)
Everyone says having kids blows up your life.
They’re right, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing.
It’s the Parenting Paradox!