The $100 Question: Tell Kelly from Kelly's Korner Your Parenting Challenges To Win

I have found that the hardest part of parenting is that I question EVERY. LITTLE. THING!!! "If I nurse him to sleep today am I going to create a habit?" "If I give him teething tablets today, am I going to teach him to have a low pain tolerance and that a pill fixes everything?" "Should I try to stretch him to two naps a day instead of three now, or wait another week?" It is ridiculous! I never thought I would put so much thought in every little detail and analyze every choice to such an extreme!

That being said, I think the easiest part of parenting is that, regardless of how much (or how little) thought I put into things, they always work themselves out... and typically much faster than I could have ever dreamed!

I found out this weekend, that I'm having a hard time trying to teach my 3 year old son about independence. I want him to do things on his own, but I don't know how to teach him that he can't do everything on his own yet.

Like last night when he walked home (about a block) all by himself to get his bat and ball. I could see him the whole time, but I had told him that he couldn't go. It could be a long summer...

The hardest thing to deal with for me as a mom is how to take away the hurt my sons feel when a friend leaves them out or shuns them. My oldest boy has an autism spectrum disorder, high functioning. So most people would never know he has it because he seems like most other kids. But he does have challenges with social interaction and being able to relate to his peers. He also does not like to participate in sports much while many of the boys he wants to play with do. So recently one of his friends had a birthday party and they made it a basketball party where they rented out a court and had 22 kids attend - but not my son. This was the first time, that we know of, where he was not invited due to his disability. It hurt him to know where the neighbors were that day while he wasn't. And I so wanted to take away the pain but there is no way to fully do so. I knew parenting would be difficult but when your children are hurting inside, it's the worst feeling for a mom.

As someone who has been a child and who has helped "parent"...it's most difficult when those you have been/are close to do not share similar parenting values. It breaks my heart to watch their kidlets grow up experiencing unnecessary pain and confusion...due to a parent not learning how to bring ((their)) best self forward...while expecting their ((child)) to do that very thing.

One Friday night, I loaded up my life and headed out... ( http://isledance.blogspot.com )

The biggest parenting challenge is manouvering the afterschool playground. You know socializing with the mom's in the playground - with their botox, bebe bling, and massive leather interior SUV's.

It's having attempting to have an empathetic conversation with the stay at home mom when she tells you both of her nannies quit for her two childen. But is relived that she still has her cleaning staff. It's a challenge for me to refrain from a snarky comment and eyeroll.

I find this is the biggest parenting challenge. The playground is like Mom's in high school allover again and it's the constant stress to find the right bench to sit.

Harder than I expected is letting go, even though my son is only 4, I see him gaining his independence every day and at times it makes me sad and miss the times when he needed me more.

Easier than I expected is how quickly I fell in love with them!

Heather

I think the hardest thing about being a mom is that you're job is never really "done". Mom's are on duty 24 hours a day and it doesn't end when they turn 18..in fact, the job gets a wee bit tougher then since you're struggling with an "adult" who hasn't really learned the ropes of being an adult yet.they tend not to want to listen very well. I have four children and now three of them are "adults"....I'm still doing the "mom" thing and trying to lead them on a path that will eventually make their lives easier.

The easiest thing is the love....after I had my first son, I didn't think I had enough love left over when I was pregnant with my 2nd son. I couldn't imagine loving my 2nd son as much as I love my first. Love is funny how it multiplies and stretches and never breaks and there's always enough to go around with plenty left over. I remember my daughter asking me which of my children I love the best...I could honestly answer that I love them all the same..with all my heart.

The follow-through has been harder than I expected as a mom. You grow up thinking "I won't let my kids be like that" or "my kids will never do that", but following through on the TEACHING and DISCIPLINING of those skills and behaviors is quite a chore!

Easier? taking care of those bumps and bruises and blood. It's hard, but in emergencies, you just go into Mommy-Mode and get 'er done so to speak. You focus on the necessary and push any and all squeamishness aside...you don't let things get to you or gross you out. Your little one's survival and health is at risk and you do all to protect that. :)

amiedanny@msn.com

What has been harder is - it's not over when they are 22! I got married a week after I graduated from college and my husband and I moved out of the country for 3 years - so my parents were pretty much done! But our daughter is not only single, but in debt to us - so I feel like I have to give my 2 cents (hmm maybe that was a poor choice of words) and keep telling her how to manage her money, etc.

Nancy

http://teachingsundayschool.blogspot.com
http://www.abridescookbook.com/blog
http://www.givitup.com
http://onlinestoregivitup.blogspot.com
http://thenestempties.blogspot.com

The biggest unexpected challenge in parenting for me was discovering that my really smart boy is actually not just smart, but off-the-charts-crazy-smart--parenting a kid who's more intelligent than I am is *freaking* daunting. Joyous, exciting, frustrating, too, but DAUNTING.

The thing I thought would be the toughest was raising a daughter in our society--what with equality issues, body image, self-esteem, etc.--being a woman in our world can be *hard*, and I was terrified to learn she was a girl. I didn't think I was up to the task of responsibly raising a girl. Raising her to have confidence and a healthy self-image, and to be critical of mixed messages about what it means to be a woman in our society has been far easier than I expected. Once I recognized that it was my behavior that mattered, not my words, I found that it actually comes naturally. I see her confidence in herself and her capabilities growing each day--she is developing a healthy confidence and positive self-image.

~Margaret

Just Margaret ( http://maurhoffbarney.blogspot.com )

The stage between two and three has to be the hardest part of parenting. The child can not fully communicate their wants and gets frustrated when you don't understand them.

I have to say the easiest part of parenting for me has been bedtime. I have always laid my children down witout rocking them and they learned to self soothe. I know it sounds harsh when they are tiny but it pays off in the end.

Wow ... This is a hard question!

I feel like parenting has been nothing like I expected! I would say that the hardest thing that I've encountered so far (Lydia just turned 2) would be disciplining. I know that it's something that I have to do, but it breaks my heart when I make her cry. Hopefully it will pay off in the end though!

The easiest part has been adjusting to life with a baby. I was so worried about going from working full time to staying at home with her, but it all worked out great. I was worried about not having adult interaction as much but I don't miss anything about life before becoming a Mom!

The easiest thing: loving my boys. When I was pregnant with my second child, I wondered how I could possibly have enough love for two kids. Well, it just happens naturally.

The hardest part: tough love. I know it's necessary sometimes, but it's never easy.

Everything has been pretty easy with my baby boy(he'll be 1 nxt week)! He is the most laid back, happiest baby! He started sleeping all night at 5 weeks. Have him fed and in a clean diaper, and he is good to go!!

The hardest thing would be balancing my time...I don't know where the time goes these days! I get so behind on housework because I'm trying to spend as much time as I can with my son and my husband since I work full-time. Also, I worried a lot when he wasn't doing things other kids his age were doing...I need to learn not to compare and that all babies do stuff on their own time :) I'm getting better!

I think in the begining, the hardest thing was of course, not getting any sleep. I didn't realize how demanding one little baby could be. Now that my kids are 9,7, and 4, the hardest thing is being sure that everyone is getting enough attention. I don't want to be the one whose ever accused of having favorites. The thing that was easier than I expected was potty training. I don't know if I was just blessed or what, but all three of my kids were potty trained by the time they were 2, so that was a great relief for me :)

The hardest part about being a mother is learning to get on a schedule or in a routine that works best for you and your husband and of course, your baby! And remembering to pray about it!
The easiest part about being a mother was just knowing your child, only YOU know when your baby has a hurt cry or a scared cry, etc. You JUST know! It just amazes me how God just gives you that instinct from the start!

is keeping my temper. I have always been a little on the fiery side, but I had no idea it would be this hard to keep from yelling at a defenseless and utterly adorable toddler. It came as quite a surprise to me that these little people could get my goat so easily. Let's just say it's a work in progress.

OTOH, I never thought it would be easy to teach and nurture them, either. I'm not (sigh, big confessions today) really the "mothering" type. But with my own kids, I've found that I really enjoy being with them, teaching them, and just watching them grow! I thought I'd be bored, but I'm having the time of my life!

It was all unexpected! But, to narrow it down a bit:

Harder than expected: losing my freedom and independence, always being on someone else's timeline. I can't even go to the bathroom in peace!

Easier than expected: Dealing with another person's bodily fluids and getting up in the middle of the night. I didn't think I would handle either well, and they surprisingly don't bother me much at all.

The easiest thing that I have found about parenting is that I do have enough love to go around. When I was expecting my second daughter I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to love her as much as my first but I have found out that I have enough love to go around as I now have 5 daughters. The hardest thing is the worrying about how they'll turn out and if I'm doing a good job with how I am raising them. I'm still learning that God will lead me and the best thing I can do is pray for them and to raise them in church and teach them about God.

What a fun topic! :) With my son, as hard as it is to believe the easiest thing was potty training and getting rid of his "ninny" (pacifier). With the pacifier, the Easter after his 2nd birthday, we told him that the Easter bunny took it and in exchange left him a basket of goodies! :) He loved the idea and after one night of him asking for it, the pacifier issue was solved and we've never looked back! :) In regards to potty training, we left "his" potty out downstairs, one day he decided to use it and again, never looked back. I am well aware that I WILL not be lucky with my 2nd (what are the odds that both children will potty train so easily???? :) but at least the first was quick and easy. The hardest part of parenting, well, pretty much EVERYTHING :) but I'd have to say discipline! It's hard to determine what is the right and wrong parenting techniques for a very ornery 4 year old. I feel like whatever choices we make are going to determine the type of young child and ulitmately adult he is and that's scary! I know everything will work out, but it's still by far one of the hardest parts of parenting.

The hardest unexpected moments of being a mom are the worries. I always knew life was full of down times, bad news and health issues that are beyond our control. I actually was naive enough to believe that it would never happen to me. I worry with every milestone for my kids. I worried about baby food, preschool friends, elementary and now heading into junior high, I worry about my child being prepared for adult situations. It's a constant. Thankfully I have prayer to see to my worries. God takes care of them as I hand them over, I just need to hand them over sooner than I sometimes do.

The easiest unexpected mommy moments for me is the love. I just always wondered how I would love two kids uncondtionally with the same amount of love at the same time. I find it so easy now and laugh at the thought of never having enough. God has blessed me with a boy and a girl and although I worry about their development, I stop to think that I am a child of God and He has protected and loved me unconditionally. I can do no less for my own children knowing He is right beside me each day.

Easiest--for me alot of the "babycare" came easy.nursing was easy for me. I had easy pregnancies and fabulous births. Potty training was a lot easier than I thought

Hardest--- realizing how selfish and impatient I am. totally dying to self to care for these little people. Preschool discipline.

Mama Llama! 
Come graze with our crazy Herd!

www.littlellamas.com ( http://www.littlellamas.blogspot.com/ )

Almost everything has been easier than expected (*ducks*) because I was SO into mommyblogs for SO long before I had my son that I was armed to battle every single thing that could possibly go wrong. And when they didn't? I breathed a sigh of relief and considered myself one of the lucky ones.

Aside from just trying to juggle work and home life, the hardest actual hands-on thing about being a mom is combatting boredom of the everyday. I spend A LOT of time home alone with my toddler, and it gets really hard to read the same books over and over and over and over and over again.

I can't believe that middle school homework is so HARD!
Ok, let me amend that- I can't believe it's so hard to get my middle schooler to do his homework!

Oh, but when my middle schooler was a baby, I couldn't believe how easy it was to get him down for his nap.
Hmm...am I paying for it now?
;o)

The hardest part is finding enough time with my husband. It seems there is always something to be done for the kids, and we're working on making sure our priorities are straight.

The easiest thing was selfless love for each of my kids. I realized just how selfish I was before having children, and it is so easy to put them first.

The hardest thing about being a mom is never having a day 'off'. No matter how tired your are, exhausted, frustrated, etc you still have this precious little child depending on you. I used to think my parents knew everything!!! And now I realize that when you become a parent, you really don't know it all. At times I call my mom and ask her what to do b/c I feel like I don't have a clue as to what I am doing.

The best thing is the countless hugs and kisses I get. The unconditional love that a child gives you. And as an added bonus, when i feel like i've messed up or not made the right decision...he's still too young to realize it =)

The hardest part of being a Mom is trimming fingernails and potty training. I am not a fan of either of these! (translation:I suck at both).
The easiest thing about being a Mom is just enjoying my little creations. They are all completely different and wonderful! Actually, this is a hard part of being a Mom because it just makes me want to have more!

Harder... for me... balancing time. Getting it all done. Letting things go mentally- like it's ok if my house isn't perfect- if I am exhausted I need to rest. I hate to be late but yet it seems we're late for everything. It seems impossible to be on time and that drives me batty. Time management seems to be hard for me.

Easiest for me... would be just the unconditional love that comes naturally for me as a mom. I feel blessed.

Hardest is watching your babies hurt...I've watched my oldest in the hospital for 2 days after an asthma attack struggle to breath, my middle scream as he received stitches in his lip (and have them removed), and my baby have an allergic reaction that swelled her eyes closed. It's hard to feel so helpless.

Easiest is loving them with every fiber of your being and feeling compelled to brag on them (modestly, of course) at the drop of a hat. Who would've thought that these tiny beings that grow into toddlers and preschoolers and on up - that their imperfections and flaws that would drive me crazy if they belonged to someone else, make them part of the perfect creation that I adore.

Breastfeeding was harder in the beginning than I thought. I didn't know it would hurt so bad to get it going but, it gets better. getting up at night was easier than I thought. I thought it I would never get any sleep! Although I don't get as much as I used to, I get more than I thought I would.

:)

I guess I'm just naive but I didn't realize how hard breastfeeding would be. I knew it was very painful, but I had no clue how emotionally exhausting it is! It was especially hard when my baby girl stopped breastfeeding at 3 weeks and I had to go strictly to formula. I had a very difficult time making that decision, but I had no choice; my baby needed to be fed! The easiest thing has been everything. I am blessed beyond measure with a precious girl that rarely fusses and is so content and happy all the time. It makes everything easy from cooking dinner, running errands, etc. She's a just a happy girl and I love spending time with her :)

I guess I'm just naive but I didn't realize how hard breastfeeding would be. I knew it was very painful, but I had no clue how emotionally exhausting it is! It was especially hard when my baby girl stopped breastfeeding at 3 weeks and I had to go strictly to formula. I had a very difficult time making that decision, but I had no choice; my baby needed to be fed! The easiest thing has been everything. I am blessed beyond measure with a precious girl that rarely fusses and is so content and happy all the time. It makes everything easy from cooking dinner, running errands, etc. She's a just a happy girl and I love spending time with her :)

The hard part has proved to be getting pregnant! Anything will be easy after 9 years of infertility!

As a mom, the hardest part of parenting for me would have to be what our life has become since the birth of our twin daughters. With just Tucker we had such a routine going and stuck to a pretty good schedule. We had 100% of our time to devote to him and he was so well adjusted because of it.

Once the girls were born it all went out the window! With having to go between home and the NICU for 7 weeks while the girls were in the hospital really put a huge strain on our family unit. Tucker was juggled between us, my parents, and my husbands parents and really lost all since of routine and schedule. Things also became very confusing as far as how things were done, because we all did things differently with him.

Once the girls came home things got better but my idea of what our life would be like was completely different from what it actually was like. The girls demanded so much from us and Tucker had to be so flexible and patient with us. Luckily, and mostly because of our parenting style up until that point, he was able to adjust to the new way of life better than I expected.

But things are still a lot less routine and scheduled like I once liked them to be. I'm slowly getting used to the fact that life with three kids under three will never probably be as routine and scheduled as I like, and in doing that I've been able to handle it better than I expected!

As far as the easiest part of being a parent, it's being able to love all three of my children so unconditionally and equally. I worried so much when pregnant with the girls if I would love them as much as I loved Tucker. Everyone tells you that you will, and they are so right! Each of the kids is special in their own way and I love them each differntly. But there is no favoring. They are all mine and that makes it so easy to love them each unconditionally but without regard to someone being more loved than another.

Having just one child, your first, is so different from when your family starts to grow. Just be sure to cherish every moment with Harper because it will only be that way once. As soon as you decide to add to your family everything changes. I wouldn't change it for the world, but there are times when I think back to the beginning and miss it.

XOXO, Heather

Hardest: Letting go. It is so hard to watch them grow and grow to be independent - even when you know it is the best thing and you are so proud of their accomplishments.

Easiest: Loving birth children and adopted children equally. It just doesn't matter in the least. I have always been surprised by that question.
chris

Honestly, the hardest challenge for me has been leaving my son and finding time for myself. "Me" time is hard to come by for me. Not because I don't have anyone to help out with my son, BUT more because I hate leaving him. Motherhood is such a blessing and I consider myself incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to be a mom. I honestly do enjoy every waking minute with my little guy. He's the greatest blessing I've EVER received!!!

I'm single and I think THAT's hard. But, I hope to become a mom some day and expect that to be very hard. Adding a baby into my already crazy life? Working mom or stay-at-home mom, both are tough jobs...very rewarding though.

Breastfeeding has definitely been easier than I ever thought it would be. Not getting any "sick" days or "off days" has been the hardest thing to deal with.

I think there have been a lot of things that have been a lot of "harder" things about becoming/being a parent that I was prepared for. My husband and I adopted our baby after several years of fertility treatments. So initially, the hardest part was worrying about the birth mother changing her mind. Now (he is almost 3), the hardest part about him being adopted is not always knowing his birth parents medical history when he becomes sick. Another hard of part of parenting for me, is leaving him. We both work and I don't like leaving him for work (whether it be with my parents or at daycare) and we rarely leave him any other time. I think also, just making sure we do the right thing as first time parents (we have clearly already made some mistakes), ex: sleep issues, pacifiers, discipline, etc.
The easiest part: Loving this child that God blessed us with and picked us to be his mommy and daddy. I love snuggling, reading and playing with my sweet boy! I love being a Mom!

I think I can most easily answer the questions of what has been easiest and hardest in the parenthood stage we've completed with my little one. The toughest challenge we faced with her throughout infancy was getting her to sleep. Lots of hours were logged walking, patting, rocking, humming, singing, and otherwise trying to convince her that she really would be okay drifting off into dreamland. Once asleep, though, we enjoyed the easiest part as she slept well and for good stretches, unlike many of the horror stories we heard about adjusting to a new baby.

The hardest part of being the mom of three ages 12, 4, and 1 is making the time to love all three well at the very different stages they are at in life. And oh, not losing my patience in the process!!!

I think the hardest thing has been making sure that I a mteaching my daughter to be a strong Christian little girl. Shes only 13 months old but I still want to make sure that my husband and I are bringing her up in the best way possible. The easiest thing has been everyday chores. I really thought that it would be hard to keep the house up but I have learned how to balance and do the most with my little time.

Joyce Ostermiller

Well, the hardest part of being a Mom for me wasn't when they were babies, but letting them "go" when they reached adulthood, and relinquishing the "responsibility" to tell them what to do or not to do.
The easiest part was looking into their eyes and seeing the complete trust that I would love them and take care of them.

The easiest: How easy it is to love this new little person. How easy it is to be so thankful that God created this wonderful new life for you.

The hardest: Wondering if you're doing the best for the baby. Wondering if you're doing everything 'right.'

The one thing that has been the hardest about being a mommy is the time it takes to do anything! I feel like it takes me twice as long to get out of the house in the morning. The easiest thing about being a mommy has been taking the time to love and hold my little one. I love the way she smells and I never knew I could love a little person as much as I love my little girl!

The hardest thing about being a mom is the amount of worry and fear there is...I'm a worrier to begin with but it completely escalated when I had kids. Also the decsions you have to make...to know that I'm making choices that could affect who my children are as people is hard for me sometimes.

The easiest thing is loving them...its the most amazing thing too...to love someone that much. I love them with every fiber of my being...it was just this completely natural thing for me. I love hearing them laugh and waking them up in the morning...I love to cuddle with them and am constantly telling them I love them.

What a great question! I think the hardest part about being a mom is wondering if you are doing the "right thing" and working on dealing with "mom guilt". It's hard to not compare myself with other moms and what they are doing.
The easiest thing (not sure I'd say easiest, but the thing that isn't too bad) is getting up in the middle of the night. I thought I would die before I had kids at the thought of having to get up in the middle of the night, but it's really not that bad. That, and getting out and about...I think I over thought it and thought I would be stuck at home, but it's easy to just take them along with me and what I am doing...even when I've had to leave the cart in the middle of the Target aisle and leave because of "misbehaving", it's not that bad.

What has been easier? The tired part. With 5 kids under 7 I thought I'd be dead! I've learned to live with the sleep deprivation.

What has been harder? Missing my husband! He's a doctor and I barely see him :(

What has been easier? The tired part. With 5 kids under 7 I thought I'd be dead! I've learned to live with the sleep deprivation.

What has been harder? Missing my husband! He's a doctor and I barely see him :(

What has been easier? The tired part. With 5 kids under 7 I thought I'd be dead! I've learned to live with the sleep deprivation.

What has been harder? Missing my husband! He's a doctor and I barely see him :(