I asked this question recently on Twitter and Facebook:

What is the most difficult part of parenting?

I got some fantastic responses…so great, in fact, that I thought I’d share them with you.  I think some of them will resonate with you.

The most difficult part of parenting:

My answers (thought I’d throw my own thoughts in, too):

  • Consistent discipline
  • There are no step-by-step instruction books on parenting.
  • My child has a will and so do I
  • So much of who you are comes out in their personality
  • You don’t get a break. Even when you’re apart, you think about them.
  • It can be embarrassing.
  • $$$$
  • Getting them to eat (my son is 2.5)
  • Helping them understand why they should do the right thing.

Your answers

  • Putting my kids’ needs before my own. BradHuebert
  • The most difficult part of parenting is having kids.  It would be much easier without them! Jeremy_Riggs
  • Not being perfect myself. JCWert
  • Discipline with consistency. Lori Prine Clayton
  • The children. Justin Henne
  • The other parent. Elizabeth Clark
  • Being stern, with them knowing it’s in love. Brenda Taylor
  • Being constantly humbled by my sinfulness. It’s a very real picture into my idolatry of myself.  Courtney Shelton
  • Discipline and tough love.  Sarah McAfee
  • Guilt. Bonnie Bowers
  • Letting the poop slide right off of you…literally and figuratively.  Theresa Milton
  • Patience.  Joseph Smith
  • Not having kids to practice on…thanks for rubbing it in, Ben.  Tyler Aman
  • Letting them go to grow.  It is natural for us to want to shelter and protect them.  It is difficult to step back, even when it is good for them.  Keith Davis
  • Letting them go when they are grown, letting them be who they want to be without question, I really can’t answer this fully, wow!  And I have raised 3 kids already, on the 4th and last! 🙁  Jackie Olvis
  • I just wish my children were still at home!!!  (I also mean when they were younger and I was younger too!)  Mary Jane Ross
  • When someone hurts them and you can’t do anything to stop it.  Hazel Tindle
  • Different at every stage.  There are changes I welcome joyfully and those that pass with sadness.  I do agree that letting go is hard and has been present and progressive at every stage.  Camie Green
  • Letting go when they are adults.  Beth Bunch
  • Not giving them so much attention that gets them looking at themselves instead of God.  Granny Piper

What do you think the most difficult part of parenting is?