Through the Years

When I first had my son, people would often tell me, "Enjoy this time with your baby. This is the easy part." I would politely say, "Yes, I know. I will try." Secretly, I would think these people lost their minds. Are they kidding? I was exhausted. I had zero time to do anything. My house became a mess overnight. My life had been completely turned around.

Three-and-a-half years later, I know exactly what all of those wise mothers meant. I love my son Michael a thousand times more than I did the day he was born— he is especially smart, funny, kind and loving. But, he gets me so frustrated that sometimes I don't know how I make it through the day!

Michael is not what you would characterize as a bad kid. Rather, he is a decent sharer most of the time, he is not malicious or violent by nature, and, I know deep down, he tries hard to be a good boy. Some days, however, he just falls short. There are days when Michael refuses to listen: He won't clean up, he won't get dressed, he won't get undressed, he won't stop bothering his little sister, he refuses to brush his teeth, he resists washing his hands. You name it, Michael just won't do anything I ask.

At the end of a tough day, I generally contemplate the future. Veteran parents always talk about the teenage years and how hard they can be. If I am finding each year tougher than the last, I ask myself, will I ever survive?