I have 3 and I am in awe of the parents who make it look fun. I definitely think some people are better at parenthood, naturally have better skills/temperament. Like anything else in life different people are good at different things. That said even if you’re not one of those (I’m not) you learn to cope and the chaos is outweighed ghee by the love and the joy that your kids bring.
I do think there is a difference between neurodiverse children and others. For some neurodiverse children, a haircut is a big deal and not worth the aggravation trying to get them to conform when there are so many areas of their life they cannot just be themselves and have had to ‘fit the mould’. For all the other kids I think it’s valuable. Self expression and choice have become commonplace for most kids in Australia today. Understanding that sometimes you do just need to fit the mould is valuable. Understanding that they are not all that special outside their own family and social circle is valuable.
So true! I’ve been there (now have 3 kids), and have several friends grieving over finally giving up and coming to terms with none. We did it when we weren’t financially secure because we were too nervous to wait longer. We made it work. I will say as career focused as I was, one it is less important than you think and there’s nothing like kids to make you realise that and secondly your career does not stop. I’ve just been promoted while on parental leave after being back at work only 15 months after my last parental leave, working 4 days a week.
I’m a labour supporter but can we stop applauding everyone for giving women less than 50% representation? It’s 2022 is it really still considered normal that we are continually underrepresented!
I’m pregnant with our third and I get all sorts of judgement for my “two not enough” and our COO is grumbling about having to pay me parental leave “again”. Outside my own family there is just a huge sense of she’s not serious about her career, she’s a bit selfish and it’s all a bit much.
The question I have is what if you’re not hosting? My brother in law refuses to get vaxed and his family just see it as his choice but we’re supposed to do Christmas dinner with them before heading up to see my family in regional NSW. I’m seen as a bit hysterical for raising a concern but while my husband and I are double vaxxed our kids are too little. I don’t want to be responsible for taking COVID up to my family but my husband and his family don’t see the issue. I’m the crazy in law stirring up trouble!