Marriage vs. Parenthood

[Sasha at Parenting.com]

Which is harder: marriage or parenting?

Take our poll and then reply below to tell us why.

[JWills]

I voted that parenting is harder. There is just something about trying to raise a child to be polite, generous, caring, & RESPONIBLE (to name a few!) that has to share the rest of the world with us. I want my children to grow up into adults that are respected, responsible, kindhearted, and intelligent. And its not easy to get to that point, when you are dealing with trying to raise someone with their own ideas, plans, tantrums, etc LOL

Marrige IS difficult. But personally, I think parenting is even harder.

I wish I could go into more detail on both topics, but Im in a hurry LOL

[cay8099]

I think marriage is harder. Parenting is so big an undertaking that we tend to focus on the kids, letting marriage fall to the wayside. In the midst of raising kids it is easy to forget that keeping your marriage strong is hard work. After all it takes both people in the marriage to keep it strong, working on it daily. One person can raise kids; it takes 2 to make a marriage work.

Marriage was explained to me like this:

It takes 2 people giving 100% of themselves to make a marriage work. If one starts putting forth only 75% of the effort, the other starts giving only 60%. Soon both parties aren't doing anything to make it work, so it takes both husband and wife giving 100% every single day, and don't expect anything; expectations lead to disappointments.

[JWills]

Great points Cay!

[Shmop]

I think marriage keeps getting harder and harder.

When you become a parent you know that it's for life no matter what. You can't stop being a parent. You can stop acting like one but you will always be one. It makes a permanent change in you.

Unfortunately, society keeps making marriage seem more and more temporary. If you aim for permanence in marriage, you are not only battling your own issues but the perpetual call pf society to just throw in the towel because it's too hard.

I think marriage is also hard because you have to rely on someone else to put in just as much effort as you are and let's face it, that doesn't always happen.

[jasmine89]

I would say marriage, no I am not married but you mines well say I am
I think marriage is way harder because you have to keep up with your husband like an dislikes, I mean you don’t want him to get bored with you, so you have to keep up on your looks, an sex you don’t want HIM TO STRAY so, you have to make sure your a lady in the streets an a freak in the sheets, especially if you an your old' man been together for awhile, because you don’t want him to get tired of the same old same old, I don’t want to sound harsh but I got to tell the truth, you don’t want him to move on or cheat because he will, if he can get away with it, if he see a pretty young lady walking down the street who got her self together an he comes home to a women who haven’t showered all day, who don’t look appealing anymore, when he walk down the street an see that young women again he not thinking about her hair, he thinking whats between those thighs,


parenting is way easier,

[elissamaria]

I've to agree that marriage is harder. You love your children unconditionally. No matter what they do to you, you will still love them and be there for them. In a marriage you can get disappointed more easily. You have to keep the spark in a marriage. People change trough the years so you have to keep up with those changes in a marriage but with your children it comes naturally. As times pass by, marriage becomes more harder. Lifetime changes don't affect your kids but it does to marriage. Example economic problems, arrival of a new child, etc. Marriage is constantly testing you.

That's way I think if you have been trough a lot of hard times with your couple and your still together and in love you definitely defeated the odds and are one of the greatest couples out there. That's when you know that your are meant to be...

[baby carling 08]

Alone, parenting is harder, but I think marriage is harder when you are a parent. When you have childern, you have more responsibilities than when it is just you and your spouse. There are added stress triggers with being a married parent.

[ilovebabygirl]

you asked which was harder marriage or parenting? for certain marriage kids listen to you....Men tend not to.!!!!

[jejen_11]

I think your answer is greatly affected by what husband you have and what children you have. I have a very understanding and helpful husband. Marriage has never really been a challenge for me. But trying to make sure I have polite children that listen and act well in public, is mighty challenging for me.