I submit to you the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Parenting (with regards to John Maxwell and his 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership).

1. Someone will poop right when you’re late and running out the door.
2. Someone will run naked into your living room when you are entertaining guests.
3. Someone will throw your cell phone into the bathtub… at least once.
4. Someone will hide your keys and forget where they are.
5. Someone will make funny comments about “certain body parts”… publicly.
6. You will have to touch poop.
7. You will be the couple no one wants to sit next to in the restaurant… at least once.
8. You will feel like quitting… at least once.
9. You will have to continually evaluate and revise your parenting style.
10. You will wonder whether or not spanking is the best option.
11. They will act like you.
12. They will accept your apology.
13. They will make you laugh.
14. They will teach you about grace.
15. They will come up with the most creative places to hide food they don’t want to eat.
16. At least once they will cut their own hair with sharp, adult-only objects.
17. At least once they will get a bruise that looks for sure like child abuse.
18. At least once they will make you curse (at least in your head).
19. At least once they will throw themselves screaming to the ground.
20. At least once they will make loud, obnoxious body noises… and people will think it was you
21. Being a parent is the highest title of honor and the best experience… ever. Even God chose to refer to Himself as “Father.”

I am continually humbled, angered, challenged, overwhelmed, grateful, and excited about being a parent! I have learned more about God, myself, leadership, relationships, etc. since I’ve been a parent than ever before! I love this phase of life!

How about you? How’s the parenting journey coming along?

Do you have any “irrefutable laws” of your own?