Let's be honest

I just read a blog on NPR's website (see below) entitled "Parenthood Got You Down? You're Not Alone" by Alan Greenblatt. I don't normally blog about parenty stuff — I leave that to my colleagues Jenn Brookens and Kylie Saari — but Greenblatt's blog inspired me to write my own.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/babyproject/2011/08/30/139974665/parenthood-got-you-down-youre-not-alone?sc=fb&cc=fp

As parents, we tend to be martyrs for the cause, never complaining, only touting the positive aspects of parenthood when obviously there are days we're all ready to pack up and head for the hills. It's kind of disgusting, really, what competitive beasts we become when bragging about our children's achievements, whether it's something cute Jack said, or what a great student Jill is, while other parents listen to us and make their own mental comparisons.

Let's be real. We aren't perfect, and our kids certainly aren't perfect. (And if we actually think they are — oy! those poor kids!) That's a lot for everyone to live up to, and we're all bound to fail.

As a stepmother, I feel particularly wicked if I utter something close to a complaint, and if something negative does come out, I backpedal like crazy to make it clear that I absolutely adore my kids, lest anyone should doubt. Thankfully, I have some really wonderful friends who understand, and we're able to sincerely vent about the frustrations of parenting with minimal backpedaling.