Something different tonight. I’ve been having a thoughtful day on what parenting means to me and I did say I’d do another post on the realities of parenting, so this is parenting 5 weeks in to the fun and games of 2 under 2 (which incidentally I can only say until Sunday as my baby turns 2! Where has that time gone?!).

Parenting is squeezing yourself on the back seat between 2 car seats to hold 2 little hands of people who are cranky and don’t like the stop start traffic coming out of Exeter, while being battered round the head with a happy meal balloon.

Parenting is mastering going for a wee one handed while holding an unsettled baby who if they cry they’ll wake up the toddler you just settled for a nap.

Parenting is giving up the other half of your custard cream and watching that little person loose half of that half in your cup of tea.

Parenting is swapping nights out getting shitfaced on tequila to chasing little people round soft play while getting hyper on slushy puppies.

Parenting is casually wiping actual shit from under your finger nail after clearing up a poonami incident that probably needed a hose instead of some wet wipes.

Parenting is crawling into bed at 9pm after a knackering day then waking up 4 times to tend to the little people before being woken at 6 with the cutest little ‘more-ring’ that washes away all that tiredness and gives you the strength to do it all again another day.

Parenting is inventing the ‘fly dance’ to distract your toddler who suddenly has a phobia of these flying cretins.

Parenting is loving someone unconditionally even if that person has vomited, weed and pooped on you at various points.

Parenting is putting someone else’s needs above yours at any time day or night even if it means letting your fish finger sandwich go cold because they are enjoying snuggling up to you.

Parenting finds you saying things that you never thought would come out your mouth- “you can’t colour your brother in”, “bath water isn’t for drinking”, “get off the table”- you get the idea.

Parenting is rewarding, fun, exhausting, messy, unpredictable, difficult, natural, eye-opening, brutal, uplifting and so much more.

Parenting is having your heart melt a little bit each day when a little person runs at you with her arms up shouting ‘mama’ and a littler person ends your day when he falls asleep on your chest as you are their comfort, their safe place and that makes you feel complete.