Some Rules for Being a Happier Parent

By James Prenatt — OTHER FATHER

I’m more frustrated than I should be. Or at least I’m more frustrated than I think I should be. Most of the time I’m thankful for all I have: a decent paying job with benefits and retirement, a beautiful baby girl, loving wife and hilarious stepson. I don’t like when parents complain about what a burden it is to them or how hard it is because of course it’s hard. The best jobs always are. It’s not parenthood that troubles me. I am, as always, my own worst enemy.

I’m frustrated because my job is my career. I’m frustrated because I don’t have as much time to go back to school and even if I did, my benefits are too good to give up. I’m frustrated that I’m not writing anymore, that my creativity feels stagnant and I worry every day that I’ll never actually make it the way I want to. Sometimes I think every word I write will be all for nothing by the end of it. I’m frustrated because I want more alone time with my wife and that’s always conflicting because I can’t be two places at once. I get frustrated of feeling secondary as a stepdad and not having more time with my stepson and yet the time I do have I feel I have to be extra strict with him.

Sometimes I think, well, that’s just being a parent. It’s not easy. Anything worth doing rarely is. But I’m not sure that’s a useful way to look at it. Maybe…