Parenting: The only roller coaster where you’re never tall enough, there are no seatbelts, and the ride operator is missing

 


Parenting is fantastic… wait, let’s be realistic—sometimes it’s bloody awful.

Let’s talk about the Under 5’s. I had four. Remember when everyone said, “These days go so quickly, cherish every moment”? I remember thinking (at 2am, 3am, and 4am) that these days would never end. The sleepless nights, the endless washing (oh my god, the washing), toilet training, the isolation, the sticky fingerprints on every surface, and the vague suspicion there’s a load of laundry still lurking somewhere, probably growing its own ecosystem.

Then, just as you think you’ve made it through, you hit the junior school years. Suddenly, you’re the P&C mum—endless cake stalls, school fetes, coaching every football team (even though you know nothing about football), and spending what feels like half your life in the car. The washing machine never stops. The parents are complaining, the school assignments keep coming, and you’re just trying to remember if you’ve packed everyone’s lunch and signed the right permission slip.

And then, welcome to the “my mum is an idiot” years—otherwise known as the teenage phase. The eye rolls. The door slams. Picking them up from their $7-an-hour jobs at midnight. Convincing them to stay at school, stay off drugs, and stay out of jail, all while being treated like you know absolutely nothing about life. (Spoiler: you know EVERYTHING, but apparently, you’re just embarrassing.)

But then, one day, you wake up and they’re gone. They don’t need you every day. You’re not the centre of their universe anymore—there’s someone else (and trust me, you’ll like some of them, and others… well, you’ll learn to be polite). There are only two at the dinner table, the washing machine is finally empty (hallelujah!), and there’s just a little piece of your heart that feels missing.

Parenting is a roller coaster—equal parts chaos, exhaustion, laughter, and love. Sometimes you’ll want to laugh, sometimes you’ll want to cry (sometimes both at once). But through it all, it’s worth every single moment.
To all the mums (and dads) out there riding the roller coaster—you’re doing better than you think. 💛
#ParentingTruths #RealLifeParenting #FamilyAndChildConsultants #YouAreNotAlone


About Niki Gent
Niki Gent knows a thing or two about the wild ride of parenting. As a proud mum of four and grandmother of two, she’s survived sleepless nights, endless washing, and every stage from toddlers to teenagers (and lived to tell the tale—with a sense of humour intact!).

Niki is also the Principal Consultant at Family & Child Consultants, where she brings decades of professional expertise—and plenty of real-life experience—to supporting families through every twist and turn. Her compassionate, down-to-earth approach helps parents feel seen, heard, and a little less alone on 

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