The Zen of Parenting

What kind of parent do you want to be? I always thought I’d be calm and supportive, and patient. Always teaching my kids about my love of nature. Much of the time I am that kind of parent.

We look at plants

We watch birds

We study the behaviour of animals around us

We go on hikes and look the story the environment tells us

But then there’s the fighting over this

And where she sleeps

And who has to clean this up

With all the screaming and crying about toys, where the cat sleeps, and who has to pick up the mess, let’s just say my nerves are pretty frazzled. And I have a twitchy eye. But I still grit my teeth and try not to yell.

And then my 8 year old, all snuggled into her bed, cozy and warm rolls over to face me as she wakes up this morning. Rather than a gentle “good morning Mummy” she yells out “Fuck off Isla” to her 6 year old sister.

Now where the hell is my valium tea?