Today, I am reminded yet again that being a parent is a full-time job. It’s not something that only happens in between your 8-5 job; it’s a 24/7/365 thing. There’s no holiday, no time out. Once you’re a parent, you cannot turn it “off” like an appliance or hit “pause“ when you need a break. You cannot quit it like any other job. You just learn to adapt, to juggle and shuffle everything, as time progresses. There is no escape, even if you think you can.
Being a good parent is a different matter all together.
To be a good parent, you cannot afford to slack off at any moment. You cannot focus on your career or your job or your social life while putting aside your being a parent. All these things happen at the same time. You can slack off at the other things you do. You may receive less money, or worse, lose your job. There’s always a next time and a next opportunity or a next moment. In parenting, you can’t afford to miss anything. You cannot be ‘away’ just so you can provide ‘a better future’ for your child. You have to be there. As often as possible. As often as necessary.
And lastly, you always try your best. To be a good example. To teach the most fundamental lessons in life. To provide the best care you can afford. To be present and to be patient. In whatever you do as a parent, you always try your best. Always. Even though 99.99% of the time, you don’t really know what you’re doing or how things will turn out to be.
For these reasons, I don’t think I’ll ever be a good parent. I don’t think I’ll choose to be a parent either.
Technorati: blog, reflection, on being a parent, parenthood
