Parenting is Like Climbing Mount Everest

This post was originally published on my blog, Everyday Divine, back when my oldest son was 3 and my youngest was a brand new luvabu. Those boys are now 7 and 9 (almost 10!), but it’s still one of my favorite pieces on the big crazy adventure of parenting. I’m right in the middle of the mountain now, and the great thing about that is, no matter how far I have left to climb I can look back at those early peaks I’ve conquered and know that I’ve built up strength for the climb ahead.

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Anyone who is a parent knows that sleep is a precious commodity. I've been up for over three hours already and it's only 9am. Along with the fatigue of getting up before the sun, is the dread that comes with knowing that there will inevitably be a mid afternoon meltdown from the over-tired three year old who no longer takes naps. It's going to be a long day...

But this is parenthood, and as much as I might want to complain and throw the covers back over my head, I'll make some coffee and do my best to be the adult here—even when my son starts whining that he can't eat his cereal because it's "too brown", and the baby won't let me leave the room without screaming. 

It's easy to be grateful when the sun is shinning, the house is clean, and the kids are well behaved. 

The experts say it's important to take time out for yourself, do something you enjoy. Well, it's easy to say. But what do you do when the kids jump on your back while in plank pose (as if I need another reason to procrastinate my yoga practice). It's more like a sip of coffee here, an extra minute in the shower there (I cannot describe to you the amazingness of a hot shower when you are a stay at home mom...simple pleasures indeed), that keep me going through the day. 

Why do people do it?

It's cold, it's hard, you could die in the process, but you do it because you've been told that the view is worth it. 

Before you have kids you have this idyllic picture of what life will be like, but once you get there you realize it's not at all a sunny day at the park, but a steep climb up a mountain. We are climbing Everest. It's miles and miles of suffering, for a few minutes at the top...and then you have to head back down again. It's cold, it's hard, you could die in the process, but you do it because you've been told that the view is worth it. 

Those few brave souls that have conquered it, say that it's a high unlike anything. So much so that people do it over and over again, knowing full well the misery and agony that it takes to get to that pinnacle.

I'm not sure there is a pinnacle to this metaphorical mountain. If there is one will you recognize it when you're there, or will you look back at the mountain and worry about how far you have to climb down?

Maybe, if you stop for a minute and turn your head from the mountain, you might realize that there are some pretty great views during the climb too; A smile, a hug, an improvisational game of ghost-chasing. Or maybe we are like those climbers who keep going back for more, endlessly ascending and descending for just a moment at the summit. 

However you look at it, there is no doubt that a parent, a good parent, has an arduous journey, and deserves all of the accolades of those that manage to reach the highest point on earth, or even just attempt it.

Onward dear climbers, you're almost there...again.

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