Flamingo Stage of Parenting

I recently read a blog that talked about the flamingo stage of parenting. Did you know that when flamingos raise their young, they lose their pink color? Don’t worry--it’s only temporary. It’s because they spend so much of their time caring for, watching over, protecting, and finding food for their young, that they run out of time in the day to nourish themselves. Flamingos get their beautiful pink color from the pink fish that they eat each day. This really stuck with me.

Parenting is hard! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I am sick of reading parenting blogs with simple solutions to complicated problems. Have you tried to simply explain that it’s bedtime to stimulated kids? Yep, I’ve sure tried that! The saying is “the days are long, but the years are short”. I agree, but gosh, the days can be so incredibly long. Just last night, bedtime at our house felt like many many years had passed in just one “short” hour.

Please know that we see you—pale feathers, tired eyes, juggling twelve things at once, and still showing up every single day for your little ones. The Flamingo Stage is beautiful, but it’s exhausting. It asks more of you than feels possible, and yet somehow, you keep going.

So please remember this: you deserve nourishment, too. Your color comes back. Your energy returns. Your child won’t remember the forgotten swimsuit or the not-so-Pinteresty lunch, but they will remember that they felt safe, loved, and welcomed—because you gave them that.

At The Mays School, we will always be your teammates in this season. Lean on us. Ask questions. Send the email. Share the worry. Celebrate the wins. Cry if you need to. You are not doing this alone.

And if today feels like a “less pink” day, that’s okay. It just means you’ve been giving your whole heart to your little one. Let us help you find moments to refill your cup, regain your color, and remember that you’re doing an incredible job.

You’re a wonderful parent—pink feathers, faded feathers, all of it.

We’re here for you (and absolutely not judging you for the mismatched clothes or forgotten project)!

Love,

Jessi