Tonight at the Houston Public Library at 7 p.m., author Katherine Center will be discussing her latest book

Of course, thinking about attending, I googled to find out more about this book and the author. On the website, I read an excerpt from the book that she will be discussing, and found myself laughing, saying to myself, "Who knew parenting would involve all this?"

Follow up:

Parenting is one of the most important jobs ever created, but I want to take a few moments to complain about this job of such privileged and honor. And yes, I am honored to be a parent, but I do want to point out that most high level positions are accompanied by a detailed job description. This job description accurately depicts all the responsibilities and duties of the position desired, and allows one to make an accurate assessment as to whether they can perform the job and or willing to make the sacrifices necessary to take the positions.

Ok, by a show of hands, how many of you would have waited a while if you had the privilege of reading the full job description of a parent? Don’t be shy; the people around you won’t know why your hand is raised :) I mean, honestly, who knew that this position, which as a child seemed so glamorous (staying up late, having your own money, making your own rules, making kids do chores, punishing “innocent” children {of course I was always innocent:)}, going to work, not going to school, driving a car, etc) was so not what it seemed? I expected the benefits of being on the job to be far superior to my former position working as a child, and yet, I have met disappointment:)!

See, the problem is that parents make it look easy. Mom and Dad did their job so well, that it presented an inaccurate description of the job applied for. The truth is that my parents were so awesome; they made it look as though anyone could do it and excel in the position. Perhaps my friends, the next David Blain’s illusion will be him in a house with a wife and kid, fooling the kids into thinking that parenting is easy. Can’t you see the look in the children’s eyes? The innocence of thinking that they have it hard, and parents have it easy! I think this might be the greatest illusion ever, and now that I am a parent, I realize that my efforts keep the illusion going (as it should be).

Now, I love parenting, but I assure you, that I, as well as most would have taken a couple of extra years of “freedom” if we knew all that accompanied the position. Yes, parenting is worth the criticism that accompanies the position/office. Yes, it’s such a joy seeing the community we lead reaching new heights. Yes, it’s a blessing to grow a family, but it is not easy. No regrets here, just experiences and wisdom.

Reading the excerpt from Katherine Center book was both fun and intriguing. If you can, hearing her present tonight might be more than worth the trip. Parenting is a beautiful thing, but its beauty if for reasons that tend to be void of words.

Hope to see you there.