10 Awesome Things About Being a Parent

Pajamas at 6:30 PM? In my defense, EVERYONE was doing it.

The mommy click bait has been awfully dour lately, with posts hating on everything from birthday parties to percentile charts to every conceivable kind of parent. (Apparently everyone’s an a**hole except you!)

Venting is funny and, at times, SURVIVAL. (Hey, I’ve undersold motherhood, too.) But is it possible to get so caught up in your grumpiness that you miss out on a whole lot of fun?

In that spirit, here’s a list of 10 Awesome Things About Being a Parent:

1. Access to ALL THE BIRTHDAY CAKE.

   The wedding cake of your 20’s is the kids’ birthday party cake of your 30’s. And let’s be real: ice cream cake > gold-leafed fondant.

2. A built-in excuse for everything.

   “Oh, I’m so bummed we can’t (insert crappy thing you totally don’t want to do here), but you know, it’s Dexter’s nap time and we’re kind of sticklers about his schedule.”

3. Rediscovering kid foods.

   How could I have ever forgotten you, PB&J?

4. Permission to go to bed embarrassingly early

   SO early. Like, putting-pajamas-on-at-the-same-time-as-your-kids early. (It’s the GREATEST.)

5. Reliving your own childhood favorites.

   Going to Disneyland without a kid = Creepy weirdo.
   Going to Disneyland WITH a kid = Granter of magical childhood wishes.

6. So. Many. Hugs.

   And kisses. And “I love you”‘s. Your little kids think you’re the f**king greatest, and you better soak it the heck up because, rumor has it, a storm is COMING.

7. Witnessing someone do stuff for the very first time.

   Like riding a bike or spelling their name or pooping on the potty. (PRAISE.) It’s all amazing times a million and you’ve got a front-row seat.

8. Picking out their tiny little wardrobes.

   Buying kids clothes > buying grown-up clothes, and I’ll tell you why: there’s no trying stuff on to see if it fits anyone’s “trouble areas” or worrying about whether a dress is “appropriate.” They’re kids! Superhero capes and tutus are their business casual!

9. An excuse to reread childhood classics.

   And play with your kids’ coolest toys and go on train rides and squish Playdough between your fingers. Whatever your favorite thing was to do as a kid, here’s your chance to do it all over again.

10. Creating your own family traditions.

Remember being a kid and thinking, Man, I wish my family would do (insert rad thing your parents weren’t into here). Well, guess what: now YOU’RE the parents so if you want to go to a different museum every month or spend a week camping every summer or eat pancakes in your pajamas every Sunday morning, right on.