This parenting thing is HARD.

As a parent, you are obligated to take the good WITH the bad. Today was a bad day, even though 99% of it was great. I will always remember how it felt to hold my baby down so they could yank her tooth out of her head. ALWAYS. Just like I will always remember how it felt to restrain my son, who was in hysterics, as they put the same size IV in his arm that I had when they induced me for his labor. I want so bad to take their pain and discomfort on as my own even though I know deep down that to survive in this world they have to learn how to grow their own thick skin. I can't be that for them, no matter how hard I try.

I know that over all I am a good mother. Even on days when I feel like the WORST.PARENT.EVER. I know that my kids will know through me discipline and common sense (or as much common sense as I can instill in them.) They will be handed situations to use their own logic to work things out. They will know that despite how alert and wide awake they are at 7:29 p.m., by God, they WILL be in their pajamas and in bed by 7:30. They know that I'm not interested in cooking "chicken and fries" for them every night I make something for the family that they don't like. They'll either eat it or they will be hungry come breakfast, all I ask is that they try a bite of everything on their plate. Even when I'm the discipline Nazi, they know they can always come to me for comfort. I'm the one they cry for when they've skinned their knees, even if I'm not in earshot. And as much as pride is a sin in itself, I do take pride in the strong, big hearted little people they've become. Why? Because I know that I had a hand in teaching them this.

I survive on my children, I need them as much as they need me whether they know it or not. I just hope that the Princess doesn't realize the tooth fairy never came or I will have Hell to pay tomorrow.