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Becoming a parent is a bit like being electrocuted – it’s a shock to the system.
Both situations come with a rather rude awakening while sending tingles down your spine. And (depending on what you electrocuted yourself with) both can light up your world in a very special way.
As a new parent, your priorities shift. And rather than life being all about you, it's about nurturing and caring for another human being.
The sudden burst of responsibility can be daunting. But remember, you’re not alone in this journey. There will always be someone willing to offer a hand of support, be it a friend or family member.
And, you may find parenting quotes, such as the ones below, helpful to read as they'll provide comfort, advice, and encouragement when you need it the most.
Why Is Parenting Such a Tough Ride?
There’s nothing quite like having a mushed-up banana rusk thrown in your face at 6 am. Literally nothing.
The smell stays with you all day long, as does the laughter that bellowed from the small human being who launched the offensive weapon at you. And it completely melts your heart.
That’s parenting pretty much in a nutshell: a series of mishaps that often require clean clothes. And an abundance of smiles and hugs that can overwrite the bad moods.
It’s not always easy. And, as the rusk-throwing babies grow up into toddlers and teenagers, and even young adults, there are days when you won’t feel like you’re winning.
But that's okay. Parenting isn’t a competition where the goal is to come out on top.
Instead, it's about nurturing and supporting your child as they grow and develop. It's about creating a loving and safe environment where they can thrive and become the best version of themselves.
So, don't worry about winning or losing – raising a child isn’t a game of chess.
Just focus on being there. Focus on bedtime stories and soccer matches, on dance recitals, and homemade cookies.
Focus on being their shoulder to cry on, and their biggest fan on the pitch. And most importantly, focus on building a strong and trusting relationship so that you both know, that no matter what happens, they can come to you.
Parenting doesn’t come with a handbook. There’s no Dummy’s guide to toddlers. And no downloadable app to get through the teen years.
But you don’t need it. With love, and kindness, and more patience than you thought humanly possible, you’ll find a way that works for your family. And that’s the key – finding a way that works for you, rather than the Smiths down the road, or the celebs on TV.
You’ve got this. Have faith in your own abilities. And if you still need a little encouragement, these parenting quotes are just the ticket.
So let’s get started.
57 Best Parenting Quotes and Sayings to Live By
- “I came to parenting the way most of us do — knowing nothing and trying to learn everything.” – Mayim Bialik
- “Always kiss your children goodnight, even if they're already asleep.” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
- “We are apt to forget that children watch examples better than they listen to preaching” – Roy L. Smith
- “My children are the reason I laugh, smile, and want to get up every morning.” – Gena Lee Nolin
- “Encourage and support your kids because children are apt to live up to what you believe of them.” – Lady Bird Johnson
- “It’s not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can’t tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself.” – Joyce Maynard
It’s not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can’t tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself.” – Joyce Maynard
- “Having a child is like getting a tattoo … on your face. You better be committed.” – Elizabeth Gilbert
- “In any given moment we have two options: To step forward into growth or to step back into safety.” – Abraham Maslow
- “There really are places in the heart you don't even know exist until you love a child.” – Anne Lamott
- “Your kids require you most of all to love them for who they are, not to spend your whole time trying to correct them.” – Bill Ayers
- “You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.” – Franklin P. Adams
- “There is no such thing as a perfect parent. So just be a real one.” – Sue Atkins
- “Being a parent is like being a superhero. Every day, you’re someone’s hero.” – Unknown
- “Having children is like living in a frat house — nobody sleeps, everything’s broken, and there’s a lot of throwing up.” – Ray Romano
- “We’re all imperfect parents, and that’s perfectly okay. Tiny humans need connection, not perfection.” – LR Knost
- “There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.” – Jill Churchill
- “The truth is, parenting as well as we can is always hard – really, truly, the hardest thing any of us has ever done.” – Laura Markham
- “Parenting shouldn’t feel like a competitive sport. It’s plenty challenging without any added obstacles. Strive to be loving and kind; have the courage to ask for help; take a break when you need it; celebrate all the great stuff; be kind to yourself, and be yourself. That’s who your kid loves anyways.” – Ariadne Brill
Parenting shouldn’t feel like a competitive sport. It’s plenty challenging without any added obstacles. Strive to be loving and kind; have the courage to ask for help; take a break when you need it; celebrate all the great stuff; be kind to yourself, and be yourself. That’s who your kid loves anyways.” – Ariadne Brill
- “Parents are the ultimate role models for children. Every word, every movement, and action affects. No other person or outside force has a greater influence on a child than a parent.” – Bob Keeshan
- “One of the greatest titles in the world is a parent, and one of the biggest blessings in the world is to have parents to call mom and dad.” – Jim DeMint
- “Children are like little bundles of hope and joy, teaching us to love boundlessly and unconditionally.” – Unknown
- “Parenting is the biggest sacrifice one can make. It’s putting your life on hold to fulfill the promise of your children’s tomorrow.” – Unknown
- “Parents need to fill a child’s bucket of self-esteem so high that the rest of the world can’t poke enough holes to drain it dry.” – Alvin Price
- “It takes a village to raise a child. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.” – Unknown
- “People who say they sleep like a baby usually don’t have one.” – Leo Burke
- “There’s nothing called a perfect parent, so just be a real one.” – Sue Atkins
- “I may not be able to give my kids everything they want, but I give them what they need: love, time, and attention. You can’t buy those things.” – Nishan Panwar
- The children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside.” – Whitney Houston
- “Having kids is like living in a zoo – every day is an adventure, and you never know what you’re going to see next!” – Unknown
- “No one is ever quite ready; everyone is always caught off guard. Parenthood chooses you. And you open your eyes, look at what you’ve got, say “Oh, my gosh,” and recognize that of all the balls there ever were, this is the one you should not drop. It’s not a question of choice.” – Marisa de Los Santos
No one is ever quite ready; everyone is always caught off guard. Parenthood chooses you. And you open your eyes, look at what you’ve got, say “Oh, my gosh,” and recognize that of all the balls there ever were, this is the one you should not drop. It’s not a question of choice.” – Marisa de Los Santos
- “A father’s goodness is higher than the mountain, a mother’s goodness deeper than the sea.” – Japanese proverb
- “If you’re completely exhausted and don’t know how you’re going to keep giving this much of yourself day after day, you’re probably a good parent.” – Bunmi Laditan
- “Your children need your presence more than your presents.” – Jesse Jackson
- “When your children are teenagers, it’s important to have a dog so that someone in the house is happy to see you.” – Nora Ephron
- “Every word, facial expression, gesture, or action on the part of a parent gives the child some message about self-worth.” – Virginia Satir
- “Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.” – Oprah Winfrey
- “If you have never been hated by your child, you’ve never been a parent.” – Bette Davis
- “Having children just puts the whole world into perspective. Everything else just disappears.” – Kate Winslet
- “Children need love, especially when they do not deserve it.” – Harold Hubert
- “Motherhood has taught me the meaning of living in the moment and being at peace. Children don’t think about yesterday, and they don’t think about tomorrow. They just exist in the moment.” – Jessalyn Gilsig
- “Be the parent today that you want your kids to remember tomorrow.” – Unknown
- “If you raise your children to feel that they can accomplish any goal or task they decide upon, you will have succeeded as a parent, and you will have given your children the greatest of all blessings.” – Brian Tracy
If you raise your children to feel that they can accomplish any goal or task they decide upon, you will have succeeded as a parent, and you will have given your children the greatest of all blessings.” – Brian Tracy
- “Children learn more from what you are than what you teach them.” – WEB DuBois
- “Hugs can do great amounts of good – especially for children.” – Princess Diana
- “The thing about parenting rules is there aren’t any. That’s what makes it so difficult.” – Ewan McGregor
- “Parenting without a sense of humor is like being an accountant who sucks at math.” – Amber Dusick
- “Children start out loving their parents, but as they grow older and discover their parents are human, they become judgmental. And sometimes, when they mature, they forgive their parents, especially when they discover they are also human.” – Oscar Wilde
- “Parenting is not for sissies. You have to sacrifice and grow up.” – Jillian Michaels
- “Parenthood…it’s about guiding the next generation and forgiving the last.” – Peter Krause
- “Behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent who believed first.” – Matthew Jacobson
- “Parenting is a lifetime job and does not stop when a child grows up.” – Jake Slope
- “Affirming words from moms and dads are like light switches. Speak a word of affirmation at the right moment in a child’s life and it’s like lighting up a whole roomful of possibilities.” – Gary Smalley
- “Parenting is the easiest thing in the world to have an opinion about, but the hardest thing in the world to do.” – Matt Walsh
- “The point of parenting isn’t to have all the answers before we start out but instead to figure it out on the go as our children grow, because as they do, so will we.” – Bridgett Miller
The point of parenting isn’t to have all the answers before we start out but instead to figure it out on the go as our children grow, because as they do, so will we.” – Bridgett Miller
- “The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice.” – Peggy O’Mara
- “Being a parent is like trying to fly a kite in a windstorm – exciting, unpredictable, and always an adventure!” – Unknown
- “We never know the love of a parent till we become parents ourselves.” – Henry Ward Beecher
Final Thoughts on Parenting
If ever there was a challenge, parenting is it. There’s no faster ride, no scarier turns, and no bigger bumps in the track than this.
But in the same breath, there’s not a single more rewarding part to play in someone’s life, than to be their Mom or Dad. To be the person a child looks up to, feels safe with, and can depend on throughout life.
So while you may not have all the parenting answers, know that by being there, you’re doing a great job. Give yourself a pat on the back. And look forward to all the beautiful memories you’re going to make together.
For more inspirational quotes, be sure to check out these blog posts:
- 79 Powerful Compassion Quotes About Showing Empathy
- 55 I’m Here for You Quotes to Say to a Loved One
- 100 Kindness Quotes and Sayings About Showing Warmth
Finally, if you want to use these quotes to make a lasting change to your life, then check out and recite these 57 affirmations for success.
