Maybe it just is.....

Do you find yourself reading conflicting articles about. well..... everything? Is it hard for you to keep up with the latest advice? So. Many. Parenting. Articles. Do this.... NO! don't do that. Do this... wait.... not anymore. Want a magical stop to all the things that are hard in your life? DO THIS!

 Nope.... just kidding. that doesn't work either. And don't you dare tell anyone of your struggles because you'll hear one of two things (or maybe even both at the same time, if you're lucky!) 1. Suck it up. You're blessed. Stop whining. or 2) A TON of unwanted/bad advice. Those are your options. And we wonder why depression is so rampant in our society? You can't vent. You can't admit weakness. You can't admit that you are human. We live in a world full of lenses and you must have it together ALL the time. no excuses.
Or maybe.... it just is. MAYBE.... life is meant to have it's struggles. Think about it. Do you care for something a little better when you've worked hard to get it? Do your kids take better care of their toys when they had to earn it rather than it just being given? Do you feel a bigger sense of accomplishment when you save up for something and pay for it yourself?

 Maybe our kids were given to us to test our limits. To push our buttons. To teach us SO many things that we wouldn't learn any other way. Maybe life is difficult at times to help us REALLY appreciate the great times. There is nothing more soothing to my soul than my spouse or a good friend chatting with me after a long, hard day. Just listening. Offering help when I ask. Praying for me. Sharing kind words. Sure, those things are awesome any day but they mean the most to me when it happens in a moment I'm really struggling.  You really learn who cares and how much they care when you're at a low point in your life and you survey who is there for you. Does that mean that no one else cares? Not necessarily.... just that there are certain individuals who are super attentive and placed in our lives for a very special reason.

 I honestly believe parenting is meant to be hard because it changes and shapes us into a better person. Maybe not in the moment but definitely down the line. Difficult people are placed in our lives to teach us love, kindness, patience. If we can love the hard people in our lives, what does that say about us? If we can remain patient through our toddler's tantrum, it feels like a MIRACLE! When we step through those gross times in our lives, those hard times, those dark times.... and we make it through... we change. Without pressure, without challenges, without those tough days, we wouldn't grow!

 Maybe if we just embrace that life IS supposed to be like this. Like we are NOT supposed to be able to skate through life effortlessly. If we repeat to ourselves that we are learning, changing, and growing every time we face those tough times, maybe our perspective will change? Maybe not today, but maybe in time.

 Maybe life just is.

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