Parenting is a journey you’re never really prepared for. No matter how much you prepare to be said parent. Even now, after being married more than a decade and four kids later, I still wonder what the hell I’m doing, almost on a daily basis. Because the thing about parenting rules is, there aren’t any!
![parent truth](https://i0.wp.com/mama4.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ba2da8b371f38890e44291584b19af2e.jpg?resize=540%2C540&ssl=1)
You are already doing such an incredible job. But just incase you’re unsure about where you stand on this parenting thing, here’s how you know you’re a (GREAT) parent:
YOU KNOW YOU’RE A PARENT WHEN…
- your biggest fight was because your spouse entered the room, asking if baby was asleep…when you just got him to finally close his eyes
- you’ve rocked your shopping trolley, or bouncing gently while waiting in line to pay…without holding a baby
![happy mom parent shopping](https://i0.wp.com/mama4.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/tumblr_inline_mr87y9Vx1Z1qz4rgp.png?resize=285%2C304&ssl=1)
- going grocery shopping without your children feel like a mini holiday
- you panic when your kids are present, not napping, and silent
- you cram your entire adult life between the time you put your child down for the night, and you go to sleep
- you’re always late
- your kids want to strike up a serious converation only when you’re trying to going to sleep, read a book, closing yourself in the bathroom, or watching a critical moment of your favouite TV show
- you know what “suicide hour” means
- things that would have completely disgusted and freaked you out pre-parenthood, have become your new normal (think being peed on and having noses wiped off in your neck in your 20’s vs today)
![parent mom with girls](https://i0.wp.com/mama4.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/39982283_10155395015681557_6469418901917663232_o.jpg?fit=1030%2C772&ssl=1)
- the more effort you put into preparing dinner, the less of it will get eaten
- Legos are your worst nightmare, and stepping on one is scarier than walking on live coals
- when you get in someone’s car (non-parents), you’re shocked at how clean the car is
- waking up 8am on a weekend is sleeping in
- closing bathroom doors at home has become a thing in the past
- you can have a full-on conversation with your toddler while on the toilet (#newnormal)
![parenting like riding a bike](https://i0.wp.com/mama4.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/parenting-is-easy-its-like-riding-a-bike-except-the-bike-is-on-fire-and-youre-on-fire-and-everything-is-on-fire-and-youre-in-hell-7e4b0.png?resize=420%2C294&ssl=1)
- you happily sing along to nursery songs (and know all the words) even when no one else is in the car
- you finally have a date night and feel guilty for leaving the kids for longer than an hour or two
- a small part of you enjoys when your child is sick because it means they’ll sit still to get extra snuggles and love
- you’ve mastered the art of the whisper yell
- dressing up fancy means putting on earings
- you start counting down the hours to nap time the second they wake up. And then again until dad comes home
- you judge the quality of a restaurant by the kind of the baby-chairs they have
- you have tasted the formula/breastmilk while dripping it on your wrist to check if the temperature is just right
- … “Baaaaabyyyyy shark doo-doo-doodoo!” That is all.
![baby shark parenting](https://i2.wp.com/mama4.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/https___blogs-images.forbes.com_spencerdukoff_files_2019_01_daag1-ASNYW5MR0N5-Full-Image_GalleryBackground-en-US-1535151859443._RI_SX940_.jpg?fit=1030%2C698&ssl=1)
Baby shark… ek wens ek het nooit daai woorde gegoogle nie!
HAHAHAHAHA!!!