Image: Flickr/Chris Frewin

“Insanity is hereditary; you get it from your children.” (Sam Levenson)

No sane, rational person ever believes that there will come a time when he’ll be giving a very old hamster a haircut with clippers while having an argument with an exhausted child who insists she is not tired and does not need to go to bed early AND simultaneously trying to discuss with another child whether or not goldfish go to heaven. This is not talked about in the What to Expect When You’re Expecting books.

Eventually, every parent looks around and wonders when he got elected the Mayor of Crazytown. That’s why it’s so important that you not only take very good care of the children (and the hamsters) in your life, but that you also take very good care of yourself.

Find someone with whom you can be completely honest and vent to them. Do something just for yourself on a regular basis. Take 15 minutes a day and just sit with your thoughts. Go out with your friends. The more you can nurture your own sanity, the better equipped you’ll be to handle the chaos and insanity that naturally accompanies life with kids.

The time will come when those crazy moments will be distant memories. Do what you can to make sure they’re fond memories as well.