The Ever-Changing New Normal

Being a parent is about always adjusting to the "new normal." But for a person who doesn't accept change well, always adjusting to a new normal can be hellish. Each new year brings different situations. Each new age brings a new set of challenges. From sleeping habits to teething to crawling to walking to running AND falling down (a lot!) to learning to talk and expand their vocabulary then trying to unteach them the colorful liquid lubricators that eventually slip out then teaching the proper audience, purpose, and context in which to use those words (#BecauseEnglishProfessor #BecauseLanguage #BecauseWordsMatter) to finding sitters then day cares then selecting and getting them in the best schools to monthly, then yearly and of course, random and frequent doc visits because new environs mean they catch EVERYTHING to developing a group of family and friends who can pitch in and help out with less than a 24 hours notice to juggling their new full schedules with your own already full schedules to watching them bud into their own being complete with personalities, quirks, and preferences to watching them gain and lose friends to watching their heartbreak over a loss, a defeat, a change, an obstacle to questioning everything you've ever taught them to wondering have you royally fucked them up! (Yeah, probably, maybe?) Phew. And that ain't that half of it.

It's exhausting. It's frustrating. It's unnerving and unending. It's heartbreaking. It's full of love and pain and every emotion there ever was, and some you didn't know.

BUT is it all worth it?
Absofuckinglutely, yes!

To the people who watch in awe and ask "how do you get all of that done?" Trust me, we have no damn clue. We adjust and manage and keep moving forward. Resist the urge to throw in the towel. If the ever-changing "new normal" beats you down, have a cry moment (because there is crying in parenting) and get right back in there. There can be crying, but there are very few water breaks or pee breaks--or even shower breaks when then are really small--allowed.

The new normal might try to kick your ass, but jump back up and beat it back. It's the only way I know to offer the world future functioning adults who will be prepared to start the cycle all over again and get it just a little more right than we did.

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I wrote this post a few years ago when my youngest was a wee toddler. They are both older now, but the new normal is still ever-changing. Each new age still brings new challenges. New emotions. New likes and dislikes. New adventures. But hold on and enjoy the ride because if you're fortunate, you'll eventually reach an age where you get to watch them face these new normals for themselves.

And as always, pay attention, be informed, and take part--how else will your raise decently adjusted, kind humans?!