Six myths that make parenting harder

Every parent has had a different experience when it comes to dealing with kids. If you don’t believe us, ask them.

As couples prepare for a new journey as parents, they might have come across videos and even pieces of advice from friends or relatives talking about how hard having kids is. People often focus on the challenging aspects of pregnancies without looking at the more fulfilling side it has. This information can often cause people to shy away from having kids or even opt to never have kids. If you don’t take everything with a grain of salt, parenting can end up looking more challenging than it actually is in reality.

Below are some of these parenting myths that actually paint parenting in bad light.

i. Parenting is always hard

For people who have never experienced parenting, the whole aspect of taking care of kids can sound like a nightmare. People imagine that you will never be able to cope with the demanding aspects of having kids. As they grow older, they become more independent until they move out and start their own lives. In fact, many parents wish their kids could be young again because they miss taking care of them. This shows that parenting is not always easy, but it’s not always hard either.

ii. Parenting is natural to everyone

Another myth is that everyone is destined for parenting naturally. In real sense, many people struggle with it, which can make them feel inadequate and guilty for not enjoying it. People are still learning to embrace different methods to help them prepare for this shift in their lives. You can even go for counselling, read books and use other assistive materials so that you are in a better position mentally. With this knowledge, you’ll be able to understand different aspects to parenting such as depression after pregnancy and ways to help you bond with the baby. Without this awareness, people end up carrying unnecessary baggage when it comes to parenting.

iii. Parents needs must be abandoned

It’s true that kids need a lot of love and attention. However, parents have to remember that they are human too and that their needs are just as important. If a parent’s needs are discarded, taking care of the kids also becomes challenging. It’s okay to take some time off and even spend quality time with your husband or wife while the kids are at a cousin’s place. No one is stress proof when it comes to parenting.

iv. Children need to be constantly controlled

People often imagine that children need to always be monitored at all times with no breathing space. Monitoring them is important but this can also become toxic at times. Even if you do your best to watch them all the time, they still need to learn certain things on their own. This releases unnecessary anxiety on the parent while the children become more responsible at the same time.

v. Babies cry all the time

The fear of never having peace of mind at home is something that many people have. We often imagine that babies will be a constant nuisance because they cry. It’s important to understand the reasons behind the tantrums so that you become more patient with them. Some babies suffer from conditions like colic, which causes them to cry for long periods. At times, babies also go through certain processes such as teething, which will make them more irritable than usual. This means you should prepare yourself mentally and remember that these small challenges pass with time.

vi. Good parents should never get angry

Having kids can be overwhelming especially when dealing with defiant children. Kids often repeat mistakes and even throw annoying tantrums when they agreed not to. At this point, a parent can yell or even spank their children. While it may not be everyone’s gospel, moderate measures of discipline are still important because they help your kids become more responsible.