Awhile ago, Jamy (whose little dude is due to make an appearance in mere DAYS, people!) asked a bunch of moms for some mom related wisdom as she approaches parenting. I spent one day writing down a bunch of stuff and then never sent them to her. So, Jamy, here they are! My parenting wisdom. I’m sure there are many more things I could say, but these are the ones inspired by the lunacy in my home.

1. There will be days when you don’t want to do it anymore – parent, that is. Take a minute. Take a breath. And SUCK IT UP, CUPCAKE. YOU CAN DO IT! ONLY……HOURS UNTIL NAPTIME!

2. Sometimes you will discipline your child and he will cry. That’s OK. Sometimes, you will cry too. That is also OK.

3. On days when you look around at the mess in your home, realize that you haven’t showered, made dinner, brushed your teeth – remember this: You kept another human alive all day today. Count it as a win.

4.It’s OK if when your baby wakes up from a nap, your first thought isn’t, “Wheeeeeeee my baby is up!” and is, instead, “NOOOOOOOOO!!!”

5. You can love your baby and really want them to leave you alone at the same time. Just realize, they won’t leave you alone and you need to be OK with that.

6. If you don’t have a teething chewy toy, get a washcloth wet, toss it into the freezer for a couple minutes. Pull it out and give it to your ornery baby and let him go to town chomping on it.

7. When you go out without your baby, you might feel guilty. Don’t worry. It will pass. You might also not feel guilty, which is awesome. Don’t feel guilty for not feeling guilty.

8.Get a million of the same bottle or sippy cup so all the parts will go together.Just trust me.

9. It’s OK to ask for help. Call your mom. Call a friend who is a mom. Call Jesus. Even if it’s just a whisper, He’ll hear you and be there with you.

10. You do not have to be engaged with your child every minute of every day. Kids need to learn and explore without guidance. It’s how they learn to develop creativity. Just always be nearby, so if they need help, you’re there. It’s a good lesson to instill now. Go, make your choices. Mom will be there if you need help.

11. Don’t be afraid to be silly with your kid. They’ll love it. You’ll love it. Dancing like a loon in the kitchen makes things better on even the crappiest of days.

12. There may come a time when your son will like your husband better than you for a while. It’s natural, but it’s OK if it still hurts your feelings.

13. Having your child run up to you, throw his arms around your legs and make a kissing sound is one of the greatest things in the world. Even if you’re in the middle of making dinner and it frustrates you to stop whatever you’re doing, give that kid a kiss. I have been told they don’t want kisses forever.

14. Screaming back at your child when they are screaming is not always a great idea. You think it is – like it will startle them enough that they’ll be quiet. You will, instead, scare the crap out of them and they will scream louder.

15. If you can’t control your emotions, he won’t be able to control his. The more upset you get when he’s upset, the more upset he’s going to get. Remain calm.

16. Take time for yourself and don’t feel bad about it. You can’t be the best version of yourself if you’re running on empty. You don’t have to be able to do it all. Your kid won’t remember and he won’t care. Do what you can to get what you need so you can give him what he needs.

That’s more than I meant to write, but I feel like every day is a lesson and I want to impart what I’ve learned to help you avoid some of the crazy. I’m sure it will be crazy, but you’re going to be great, Jamy. I know it!