We all know parenting can be one of the hardest things we’ll ever do, but it’s also the greatest gift we could ever receive. And let’s be real, there’s no such thing as a perfect parent.
So, when you’re having one of those bad days or facing the tough realities of raising little humans, sometimes all you need is a little humor or inspiration to get you through.
That’s why I’ve compiled a list of the best parenting quotes – and more specifically, the best parenting is hard quotes.
Whether you’re a new parent or seasoned parent, we all have times when we wonder how on earth we were ever allowed to be responsible for raising another human being.
And yet somehow, these tiny humans teach us so much, the meaning of unconditional love, the immeasurable strength of motherhood, and just how much patience we actually have (which is a lot more than I ever thought I would).
Regardless of your current parenting situation, these positive parenting quotes are bound to uplift, inspire, and encourage you, especially when parenting is hard.
Key Takeaways:
- Parenting is hard.
- Quotes can help you feel like you’re not alone and not the first and only person to have ever endured hard days.
- Be kind to yourself.
Funny Parenting Quotes
On days when parenting is hard, funny quotes like these are a great way to remind you that you’re not alone, and the hard days will pass.
1 – “Being a parent is like folding a fitted sheet. No one really knows how.” – Unknown
2 – “Sleep is like the unicorn – it is rumored to exist, but I doubt I will see any.” – Dr. Seuss
3 – “Parenting is a constant battle between going to bed to catch up on some sleep or staying awake to finally have some alone time.” – Unknown
This speaks to my soul, especially during those long days and sleepless nights with a new baby.
4 – “I love cleaning up messes I didn’t make. So, I became a mom.” – Unknown
5 – “There is no such thing as a bad day when you come home to a dirty house and two dirty kids.” – Phyllis Diller
This is possibly one of my most favorite quotes on this list. It is such a good reminder that kids are meant to be messy, they get messy and dirty when they explore and learn. And that it’s actually okay if our house looks like people live in it.
6 – “Parenting is the only job where the boss is always awake.” – Ewan McGregor
7 – “Having children is like living in a frat house – nobody sleeps, everything’s broken, and there’s a lot of throwing up.” – Ray Romano
Inspirational Parenting Is Hard Quotes
These inspirational parenting quotes can help give you the strength you need to deal with the big emotions that come with parenting (both the kids, and yours) and give you a big ol’ hug.
8 – “The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” – Theodore Hesburgh
I just want to note with this quote that I am all too aware that this quote can be taken the wrong way.
I included it because it illustrates the impact of loving and healthy relationships and modelling these to our kids.
I’m a divorced mom, on her second marriage, and I can tell you how darn important it was for me to model a healthy relationship for my kids.
I don’t see this as black and white as a father loving a mother, but more that the children see their parents being treated with love and respect.
9 – “Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.” – C.S. Lewis
When the days are long and the patience is wearing thin, this quote helps remind us of our true purpose as parents.
10 – “The best way to make children good is to make them happy.” – Oscar Wilde
11 – “To be in your children’s memories tomorrow, you have to be in their lives today.” – Barbara Kingsolver
12 – “There is no such thing as a perfect parent. So just be a real one.” – Sue Atkins
A gentle reminder that we don’t have to be perfect, just present and authentic.
13 – “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
14 – “Your children need your presence more than your presents.” – Jesse Jackson
15 – “Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.” – John F. Kennedy
16 – “At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents.” – Jane D. Hull
17 – “A parent’s love is whole no matter how many times divided.” – Robert Brault
18 – “The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.” – Billy Graham
19 – “To raise a child, it takes a village, and to love a child, it takes a heart.” – Jane Goodall
20 – “Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” – Anne Frank
21 – “Parents aren’t the people you come from. They’re the people you want to be when you grow up” – Jodi Picoult
22 – “The depth of the love of parents for their children cannot be measured. It is like no other relationship. It exceeds concern for life itself. The love of a parent for a child is continuous and transcends heartbreak and disappointment.” – James E. Faust
23 – “Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.” – Charles R. Swindoll
24 – “Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them.” – Lady Bird Johnson
25 – “A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.” – Agatha Christie
26 – “The most powerful way to change the world is to live in front of our children the way we would like the world to be.” – Graham White
27 – “In raising my children, I have lost my mind but found my soul.” – Lisa T. Shepherd
28 – “Parenting is the biggest gamble in the world. It is the glorious life force. It’s huge and scary—it’s an act of infinite optimism.” – Gilda Radner
29 – “Your children will become who you are; so be who you want them to be.” – David Bly
30 – “The best inheritance a parent can give their children is a few minutes of their time each day.” – Orlando A. Battista
31 – “If you’ve never been hated by your children, you’ve never been a parent” – Bette Davis
32 – “There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots. The other, wings.” – Hodding Carter
33 – “Parenting: the days are long, but the years are short.” – Gretchen Rubin
34 – “Children are educated by what the grown-up is and not by his talk.” – Carl Jung
35 – “Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn’t know you had and dealing with fears you didn’t know existed.” – Linda Wooten
36 – “A father’s goodness is higher than the mountain, a mother’s goodness deeper than the sea.” – Japanese Proverb
37 – “There is no school equal to a decent home and no teacher equal to a virtuous parent.” – Mahatma Gandhi
38 – “The best way to keep children at home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant—and let the air out of the tires.” – Dorothy Parker
39 – “Parenting is like being pecked to death by a chicken.” – Erma Bombeck
40 – “It’s not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.” – Ann Landers
41 – “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.” – Mitch Albom
42 – “If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them and half as much money.” – Abigail Van Buren
43 – “Being a mom has made me so tired. And so happy.” – Tina Fey
44 – “There are no perfect parents, and there are no perfect children, but there are plenty of perfect moments along the way.” – Dave Willis
45 – “No one’s really doing it perfectly. I think you love your kids with your whole heart, and you do the best you possibly can.” – Reese Witherspoon
You might also like – 85 Strong Mom Quotes That All Moms Need To Hear
Final Thoughts
Parenting is a wild and wonderful journey filled with laughter, tears, and countless moments of growth and transformation.
Whether it’s a funny parenting quote that makes you chuckle or an inspirational parenting quote that lifts your spirits during hard times, these words of wisdom can remind us that we’re not alone in our experiences.
So, the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by sleep deprivation, grumpy moods, or the seemingly endless challenges that come with raising little people, take a deep breath and remember that you’re doing your best.
And that’s all your children really need—a loving, authentic parent who’s right there with them, every step of the way.
As Michelle Obama once said, “For me, being a mother made me a better professional because coming home every night to my girls reminded me what I was working for. And being a professional made me a better mother because by pursuing my dreams, I was modeling for my girls how to pursue their dreams.”
Let these quotes serve as a source of inspiration and motivation on your parenting journey, helping you navigate both the difficult times and the moments of pure joy.