PARENTING

The Scariest Thing About Parenting

Breaking dysfunctional and generational cycles so your kids won’t have to

Photo by Usman Yousaf on Unsplash

Not a Medium member yet? Click here to read full article for free.

An expectant mother asked me, What’s the scariest thing about parenting?

I paused to consider my answer and whether or not they wanted the truth or something basic and easy to digest. I struggled because of where my head is at now, now that my kids are over the age of eighteen. Yes, those younger years were incredibly challenging, overwhelming, and at times, scary. I have one kid who had several health issues of epic proportions in addition to all the usual stuff of raising kids.

But how do I answer their question? From where I stand today, the scariest part of parenting has nothing to do with the potty training or the terrible twos.

It’s not being sleep deprived with a newborn while also caring for a toddler with the flu.

It’s not the drain of keeping tabs on a feral six-year-old with a mysterious rash.

It’s not their first day of school or a bad report card.

It’s not puberty or even learning to let go as they start to pull away in young adulthood.