03 May Parenting Is Tough, but Worth It

Kate Middleton really summed up parenthood when she said, “Nothing can really prepare you for the sheer, overwhelming experience of what it means to become a mother. It’s full of complex emotions of joy, exhaustion, love, and worry, all mixed together.”

Back in March, the Duchess of Cambridge spoke at a charity event hosted by Best Beginnings, an organization in the UK that offers helpful tools and support for babies and their parents. The Duchess shared a bit about her personal experience as a mother and related some truths that I think all parents could agree with.

It’s Okay to Feel Like You Don’t Know What You’re Doing 

She said, “There is no rule book, no right or wrong; you just have to make it up and do the very best you can to care for your family. For many mothers, myself included, this can at times lead to a lack of confidence and feelings of ignorance…. Some of this fear is about the pressure to be a perfect parent, pretending we’re all coping perfectly and loving every minute of it.”

Especially with social media today broadcasting only the highlights of people’s lives, it’s easy to feel like you’re doing something wrong when parenting isn’t smooth sailing. The truth is that everyone’s figuring it out, and for every Instagram-worthy moment, there will be others with cranky, crying babies, clothes covered in spit-up and baby food, and sleep deprivation. Is it worth it? Absolutely. It is always easy? Nope.

It’s Okay to Ask for Help

The Duchess also commented, “It is right to talk about motherhood as a wonderful thing, but we also need to talk about its stresses and strains. It’s okay not to find it easy, and asking for help should not be seen as a sign of weakness.”

As amazing as parenting is, it’s also very taxing on the mind and body. I’ve mentioned this in one of my previous blogs, but I’ll say it again: my husband and I had our first child 10 years ago, and whenever anyone would ask him, “So how’s fatherhood?” he would always answer, “It’s relentless.” If you feel overwhelmed as a parent, know that you are not alone and that it’s okay to ask for help. Talk to friends or relatives—you can even call your pediatrician! There’s is great truth behind the phrase, “It takes a village.” Look to the resources around you for help and support, and be patient with yourself.

To hear the complete speech, watch the video below.

Watch The Duchess of Cambridge speak at the launch of the @BestBeginnings 'Out of the Blue' film series, with @Heads_Together pic.twitter.com/1mMupReocK

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 23, 2017

For more information on the web, visit healthychildren.org. If you have questions or would like to discuss any concerns you have regarding your child, you can schedule an appointment with me, Dr. Kathryn Mandal, by calling 817-617-8600 or scheduling online at continuumtx.com.