You know those days when everything seems to fall into place? Life feels organized, the stars align, and for a brief moment, you think, “Wow, I’ve got this.”
Yeah… me neither.
Most days feel more like the opposite. Instead of a gentle rain shower, life sends a tsunami. Nothing seems to go right, you’re running on fumes, and you’re not entirely sure whether you’re coming or going.
Now add parenting—especially parenting teenagers.
Suddenly, you’re being regularly informed of everything you’re doing wrong. After all, what could you possibly know? It’s not like you’ve lived through adolescence yourself, right?
Parenting is definitely not for the faint of heart.
It’s hard when you love your children with every fiber of your being, want to protect them from pain, and try to share wisdom you’ve gained through your own mistakes—only to be told you have no idea what you’re talking about.
And that’s usually when the spiral begins:
- I can’t do this.
- I’m failing as a mother.
- What was I thinking having kids?
- Maybe I’m not cut out for this.
Please tell me I’m not the only one.
I remember when my kids were little and their daycare had a sign that read:
“Enjoy your children each day because they’re growing older and you’ll never get this moment back.”
Honestly? There are a few moments I’d be perfectly okay never experiencing again.
Sometimes I think back to my own childhood and wonder if I drove my mom crazy too. I’d like to believe I was a perfect child.
Ha!
But even in the frustration, eye rolls, arguments, and occasional emotional Olympics, I’m incredibly grateful for my children.
“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him.”
— Psalm 127:3
Now, in the middle of a battle where one of my kids is explaining how they could parent better than me, that verse can feel a little questionable.
A blessing? A reward? Really?
Because at that moment, “reward” feels a lot like being told you’re the worst person on the planet.
But here’s the convicting part: aren’t we God’s children too?
How many times have we rolled our eyes at His direction? Thrown a spiritual tantrum when things didn’t go our way? Questioned His wisdom?
I know I have.
And yet He still loves us. He still calls us His masterpiece. (Ephesians 2:10)
Shouldn’t we strive to see our children the same way?
God created each child uniquely, which means there’s no one-size-fits-all parenting manual. Parenting is hard. There will be days when you feel completely lost and utterly inadequate.
One of my favorite movies is Mom’s Night Out. In one scene, the main character, Ally, feels like she’s failing everyone—especially as a mother. That’s when Bones tells her:
“Ya’ll spend so much time beating yourselves up. I doubt the good Lord made a mistake giving your kiddos the mom He did.”
I love that.
God doesn’t make mistakes.
He entrusted your children to you—and mine to me—for a reason. No one else can fill that role the way you can.
So when the eye rolls come, the doors slam, and you’re tempted to hide in your closet with a family-sized bag of chocolate, remember this:
This is just a moment.
You are not a failure.
You are not inadequate.
You are exactly where God has called you to be. He is guiding you through both the struggles and the joys of parenting.
And His parenting guidebook is still the best one to follow.
angelaschmeling 