Why My Next Move Is To Build Parenity.com

Please read my previous posts in this “New Beginnings” series of posts:
* Parenity, Entrepreneurship, and the Ever-Present Anchors of Scarcity and Uncertainty
* Unemployed for the First Time Ever
And here’s the next post in the series:
* Parenity’s Launch Product: A Morning Drink Powder For Exhausted Grownups

After losing my job, obviously I need a next move; and since I already had some irons in the fire for various pieces of Parenity.com, it seems like the obvious choice of things to do, and it’s certainly the path I’m most excited about.

Parenity is more than a career move for me though. I’m the proud father of 3 fantastic little girls (as well as a fluffball cockapoo puppy named Wally), and I have to admit that being their Dad is my life. There’s nothing more important to me, and there aren’t many things I would choose to do instead of hanging with my family. I’m someone who finds most things to be a bore. I’m not easily amused, but all things in the world and even ideas in my head get new life breathed into them when viewed through the unique prism of each of my kids. Things are still new to them, and their perspectives are fresh. That is far more invigorating to me than slamming suds at some local establishment. #parentLife is my life, and there are many important facets to it, some more appealing than others.

I never would have said this before I became a Dad, but parents deserve a lot more credit than they get. I used to watch people with kids leave work early or come in late and think to myself “Must be nice. You make the decision to have kids, can’t get it together to come to work, and we pay the price.” Little did I know that these grown ups with kids likely made extreme efforts to come in on time, and would likely rather have stayed to finish their work than leave early for some random appointment for a kid who probably had no interest in being away from their original activity either (and probably made it known). That working Mom/Dad had expended more energy and effort before 9am than I likely would all day, and probably wouldn’t be finished their many duties for that day until… well, let’s be honest: EVER. But man-oh-man! Super-Mom/Dad must feel sooo loved and appreciated for all the extra work and effort they put in! Excuse me while I suppress my laughter on that misguided assumption!

I absolutely maintain that having kids is full of magic and so many moments of pure love; but goddammit, it can be a slog. You can feel warm in the heart one moment and worn down to a state of absolute white-hot rage only moments later. There are a lot of angles and feelings at play. Your kids are the most important thing to you, but they also tire you out, have an innate ability to button-push effortlessly, and are completely oblivious to the fact that you’re not much further along than they are in terms of being emotionally sophisticated. We want to scream too! And these struggles are all things that can’t generally be shared because most adults would either not get it or be more than aware already, and possibly secretly thinking they’ve got it harder than you. Plus, if you started vocalizing your struggles, it’s all you’d ever talk about, and you’d never get invited anywhere.

Remember a few moments ago when I said there aren’t too many things I’d rather be doing than my Dad duties? Well, I lied, kind of. Even though most activities/invites I’d have jumped at in my younger years lose out on my priorities list these days, there are a few things I would leave my kids in the dust for just about any day:

• A nap. And I NEVER used to nap.
• A grown-ups’ movie; alone or with my spouse. One that we could start (or dare I say it, “arrive at”) before 8pm.
• A comfy chair, in the quiet. The other day I had an MRI done on my knee. It took 20 minutes and was such a nice break.
• A walk outdoors, without arguments to settle or lives to protect at all moments.
• A meal in non-colorful surroundings, containing things like unshaped meat and prepared vegetables.
• You get the picture.

I’m not saying that all parents deserve non-stop praise and appreciation from all of society. Other people work hard and struggle too. I just think that if you looked the average parent in the eyes and told them they were amazing in their efforts, were doing great and should be so proud, they’d probably hug you for too long! When you’re a parent, there’s no escape; no pause button. You don’t get to focus on your own needs, and if/when you do get a chance, you’re probably too pooped to bother.

I see you, parents. I feel your stress and fatigue and confusion. A living is the reason I want to build Parenity, but all of the above is why I think it’s important to build Parenity. We’re drowning in businesses and products focused on the little ones, but for all our mental health awareness, fatigued grownups are left out in the cold. Well, no more! 🙂

In closing, here’s a blurb about Parenity’s overall mission and vision, which you can read expanded information on at our about page. At Parentity we envision a world where parents are less exhausted, better supported, more appreciated, and live in increased serenity. Our goal is to become the life raft parents automatically jump to when parent life is weighing on them. Calm, healthy, parents lead to happier, well-supported, confident kids; so we create products (and produce content) that better-equip moms and dads for the many struggles their days have in store for them. These products we offer are informed and evolved not only by our own needs and experiences, but-more importantly-also by listening to all of the parents in our Parenity community.

My next article, and I think likely the last in this New Beginnings series of posts, will be about our launch product, which is a morning beverage for those run down by parenting and/or adulting. I have not arrived at a name for it yet, but its purpose is to not only help you start your day hydrated, but also aid you in staying mentally and emotionally bright throughout your day.

Until then!