They’re perfect little angels … when they’re asleep.
Every parent can relate to this confession. Your kids can drive you absolutely batty. They can be whiny, defiant little monsters, and you breathe a HUGE sigh of relief when they finally go down to sleep … and then 20 minutes later you’re sneaking into their room to watch the rise and fall of their chest, marveling over the perfect curve of their cheeks and resisting the urge to snuggle them.
“My favorite part of the day is when my kids fall asleep,” one anonymous parent admits in our Parenting Confession portal.
It’s OK. Parenting is hard, and they really ARE so cute when they’re asleep.
“Two things can be true, two things can coexist,” notes Michelle Yu, co-founder and CEO of Josie, a company that provides resources and community to working parents.
“The best part of your day can be when your child goes to bed, and you finally have a chance to breathe and do something for yourself, AND you love the moments when they were awake,” she continues. “Why can’t they both be true, you know? We shouldn’t feel guilty for that.”
Ah yes, the duality of parenthood. We love our kids AND we love our alone time. Both can be true.
“I love them so much. I literally would die for them — but you’re making me nuts, and I need you to go to bed,” agrees Allison Wiggin Paolisso, co-founder and COO of Josie. “I always think, a bad day doesn’t make me a bad parent. A bad day makes me human.”
The company Josie provides coaching for working parents, and Wiggin Paolisso says a common theme for moms and dads is learning how to give yourself grace.
“We’re all just doing the best we can and figuring it out, ” she says. “I can love my kids, and I can also really like my quiet time without them.”
