Bring Back Big Families

Let’s call this one, On Parenthood and Perspective

I was scrolling through Instagram soaking in a few moments of me time when something hit me like a ton of bricks: why are so many parents out there using the platform to just dunk on their kids? It’s all rants about the messes, the tantrums, the endless questions, like their kids are some kind of burden.

Don’t get me wrong, parenting is hard, and we all need to vent sometimes. I’m just as guilty as any parent of getting upset at my kids when they do things I know that they know not to do. It’s human nature for all involved. But when the venting turns into a public tally of every little thing your kid does “wrong,” it makes me wonder: are we forgetting what this whole parenthood gig is about?

Kids aren’t meant to be perfect. They’re tiny humans, still figuring out how to human. They spill juice, they cry over nothing, they call your name a million times a day. I saw this one video where a mom actually counted how many times her kids said “Mom” in a single day, 404, to be exact. She posted it like it was some kind of gotcha, a badge of her suffering. And sure, I get it, that’s a lot of “Moms.” But then I think about the parents in Texas who lost their babies in those awful floods recently. They’d give anything—anything—to hear their child’s voice call their name just one more time.

It’s our job to teach our kids, to guide them through the chaos of growing up, no matter how exhausting it gets. It’s not about keeping score or airing their imperfections for likes. It’s about showing up, every single day, to help them grow into the people they’re meant to be. Because the truth is, these moments when they’re little, when they need us for every little thing? They’re fleeting. One day, they won’t be tugging at our sleeves or shouting “Mom” from across the house. And when that day comes, we’re going to miss it. We’re going to miss the noise, the chaos, the weight of their small hands in ours.

So let’s cherish it now, even when it’s hard. Perspective is everything. It’s what keeps us grounded when the days feel long and the nights feel longer. It’s what reminds us to see the magic in the madness, to find joy in the small, imperfect moments that make up this wild ride of parenthood. Because in the end, it’s all about perspective.

Just ask those parents who no longer have their child calling their name 404 times a day.