Some day’s you wonder if your kids invent a game in their rooms before coming down in the morning to see who can make mom or dad lose it the quickest. 10 points if you get a time out. 20 points if mom threatens that Santa will not come and so on and so forth. Could you imagine the number of rules and stipulations a game like that would have?!?! I mean seriously. Look at all the ways that they drive us to our breaking point. They ask too many questions. They grunt instead of actually answering us if they want an apple or an orange for breakfast. They won’t leave us alone. They don’t want us around. And the list goes on. And it’s never ending because raising kids is hard. No two days are ever the same as well as no two kids are either. It’s the hardest, most rewarding job we, as parents, will ever do. I know that. You know that. But I do have a confession to make…

The other day I gave up. Not the “I quit” kind of give up but more like the “if I don’t get some relief soon I’m going to be dropping a few select words more than I’d like to admit” kind of giving up. My kids were playing the game and winning. And while I’m no sore loser, but I really only lost because I was being triple teamed. And while we all do our best to keep on going, there are going to be days where you quit too. No mom, dad, aunt, uncle, baby sitter, or grandparent can win the game our kids play every single day. It is literally impossible. And as much as you hate to admit that you had to throw in the towel a day or two yourself, it does give you the upper hand for the next day. That brief moment of “quitting” gives you more than a second to catch your breath. You get longer than a time out or half time to regroup. And you get to watch your other team mates at work and catch some tips from them. There is no I in “teamwork” just as there is no I in “parents” or “help”.

So as much as you want to be in for every minute of every game, accept the fact that you need a water break every once in awhile. Don’t be afraid to go back to that tried and true play book that has been passed down generation to generation in your family. Don’t be afraid to pass the ball or play a little bit of zone instead of one on one all the time. Catch your breath every once in awhile mom (or dad). It’s ok. Because when you get back in there, you will be refreshed and rejuvenated and your kids tricks and tests will never even have a chance. It’s ok to take yourself out of the parenting game as long as you are ready to go back in when you’re needed. OK? 1. 2. 3. BREAK!

#TheOneLeggedMommy #Teamwork #Amputee #Timeout #HalfTime #Amputation #Parenting #Games #Kids #Hardwork #NecrotizingFasciitis #GetBackInThere