The true know-it-all's

“We” parents.

Yes, us.

We just know it all, don’t we?

We have all the right answers. All the right solutions. We know exactly what our children need—and, of course, exactly what they don’t need. And heaven forbid anyone tries to tell us otherwise!

Not even our own parents. Not the 80-year-old family member who has lived through generations of child-rearing. Not our child’s pediatrician. Not the tenured teacher with more than 20 years of experience in the school system. And certainly not the guidance counselor who spends countless hours writing evaluations, reviewing reports, and recommending that we seek the advice of someone who may know just a little more than they do.

Ha! Yeah, right!

The truth is, we parents don’t know it all.

And honestly, neither does anyone else.

Because these little humans we are raising are not instruction manuals. They don’t come with a user guide, a troubleshooting section, or a convenient “How to Raise Me” handbook tucked under their arm.

Every child is different.

They have their own personalities, emotions, personalities, preferences, fears, strengths, quirks, and, yes—sometimes incredibly demanding little ways!

Just when we think we have figured them out, they surprise us all over again.

And then there’s bedtime.

Oh, bedtime.

I’ve heard so many parents say:

“Bedtime is my favorite time of the day.”

And I know that’s right!

Because bedtime is the one time when our little rascals finally settle down, close their eyes, and go to sleep—giving Mom and Dad a much-needed opportunity to breathe, regroup, and enjoy a few precious moments of peace and quiet.

We love our children dearly. But Lord knows we need that break! 😂

And let’s be honest—sometimes I think our kids are the real geniuses in the family.

They somehow know exactly when to say, “My tummy hurts,” when they don’t want to go to school.

They know exactly how to look pitiful enough for Mommy to say:

“Okay, baby. You can stay home today.”

I should know.

I used to do this to my own mother so often when I was little that I became pretty good at pretending to be sick.

Sorry, Mom! LOL. 😂

And temper tantrums?

Oh, our children have those mastered too!

They know exactly when to throw one. They know exactly how long to carry it out. And somehow, they seem to know that if they keep pushing just a little longer, Daddy might eventually give in and buy them whatever they want.

Kids know.

They know how to push our buttons.

They know how to test our patience.

They know how to manipulate a situation to get what they want.

And sometimes, they seem to find great amusement in watching us adults completely lose our minds trying to figure out what on earth they are thinking!

Meanwhile, we're standing there wondering:

“Who taught you this?”

The answer?

Probably nobody.

They just know. 😂