I swear that it’s more emotional for some parents at the end of the school year than it is for their child/children. And it’s not surprising that it is, we invest so much of ourselves into our children’s schooling careers that it is hard not to feel some form of attachment (obviously more so for some than others). I am a member of my school parent council, and I am a class representative so I am at school more than most parents, and as a result, I can’t help but get attached. Well, it doesn’t help being an H.S.P, so it could just be that.

For some countries the end of the school year is in June/July and this means that we have just closed off another academic year. As I read my kids reports with them this morning, I felt two emotions run through me – I was proud of them, but I also felt a sense of accomplishment for my guidance in them getting those grades. Honestly, we do not give ourselves enough credit as parents! Because it is so routine, we do not even realise the things we do, like those daily morning drop offs and afternoon pick ups – and if you live in Dubai like me, walking in 45-degree heat and 1000-degree humidity to do so. Helping with projects and homework and ensuring that you make parent/ teacher meetings and every other meeting that the school has. It’s really like having a second job.

Parenting is exhausting yet we rarely ever acknowledge the extremity of this role that we play. We are so quick to catch our faults, and we are constantly trying to improve our parenting skills to be better, but how often do we actually celebrate how much we do do? And whether you are a working parent or a stay at home parent (this one always somehow sounds less important to me, I feel that this title needs an adjustment), you parent do without thinking – it’s an involuntary behaviour. We do it subconsciously, so much so that we never stop to realise how much we do. And if we stay within this loop of viewing being a parent as exhausting and just like another job, it can strip the joy out of being a parent. So, when you get to the end of your child’s academic year and when you praise and reward them, remember to do the same for yourself. It’s the end of year for you too!

And the next time you feel like you’re failing at parenting, remember that you are voluntary relearning Math purely because you love your child. And if that is not sacrifice, I don’t know what is.