Parenting is hard! Not the “let your kids run wild and do whatever they want” kind of parenting, but the kind where you want to raise well-behaved, well-rounded citizens of the world — and pray they don’t terrorize the general public.

You make sure they go to good schools, stay involved in extracurricular activities, go out to dinner often, and even take trips to show them the world. But then, they misbehave, and all hell breaks loose.

Recently, I took my lovely daughter on a 36-hour trip to Texas to visit her nanny. During this “lovely” trip, my sweet child scream-cried every time she saw her nanny’s dog, refused to listen, constantly wanted snacks, whined and complained about everything, and walked slower than molasses. By the end of the trip, I was ready to drop her off with her other parent and keep it pushing.

I told myself she was never going on another trip again — that I’d be traveling solo from now on. I convinced myself I couldn’t do this. Parenting wasn’t for me. I was ready to give up.

I was mentally screaming at God, “Hello? Do You hear me? I’m begging You for help here! I’m tired of fussing, repeating myself, and constantly redirecting my attention. I need HELP!” I even called my mama for advice.

And then my very next thought? A to-do list for our next trip. 🤦🏽‍♀️

1. Pack unlimited snacks.

2. Pay for a carry-on bag for extra clothes.

3. Add more things as I think of them.

So here’s the thing… I can’t give up just because it’s hard. “To whom much is given, much is required” — and that’s one of the truest statements ever spoken. This blessing of parenthood is a challenge, to say the least, but my heart knows that if God gave it to me, He will see me through it and do the heavy lifting when I can’t do it alone.

If I’m ready to give up at year five, Lord help me for the many more to come!

As I sit on this plane surrounded by crying kids, I’m filled with grace and compassion for the other parents who feel hopeless and embarrassed. There’s nothing they can do — no magic fix to calm the chaos. We’re all in a confined space with limited resources. And my lovely one? She’s asking why she can’t have a snack right now.

In the midst of the trials of parenting, there’s still hope — and that’s what I’m clinging to. Even when I plan everything to a T next time, some unforeseen challenge will show up again. And once again, I’ll find myself at the feet of Jesus, asking for His help — and He will help me once again.

So when things get hard in the areas of life we can’t change, remember this: even if the situation doesn’t change, the way you handle it can.