Any parent who says parenting came easily to them is not being

Hear then the words of Karamo Brown, who spoke with candor and humility: “Any parent who says parenting came easily to them is not being honest with themselves. Parenting is hard.” These words, though simple, strike like the ringing of a temple bell in the hearts of mothers and fathers across the ages. For they pierce through illusion and comfort, revealing a truth that the ancients themselves would not deny: the task of raising a child is among the most arduous labors given to humankind. It is a trial of the soul, a forging of patience, endurance, and love that must withstand both fire and storm.

From the beginning of time, the journey of the parent has never been free from struggle. In the tales of old, we find kings and peasants alike bewildered before the cries of their children, wondering if they are enough. Even the great Marcus Aurelius, emperor and philosopher, struggled with his children, lamenting the hardships of guiding them toward wisdom. If emperors in gilded halls could falter, how much more the common man and woman in their humble dwellings? Thus, Karamo’s words echo ancient wisdom: parenting is not easy; it is not meant to be easy. It is the crucible by which mortals learn both humility and strength.

Consider the story of Frederick Douglass, the great orator and liberator, who recalled not the ease but the sacrifice of his grandmother. She, though old and weary, carried the weight of her descendants upon her back, laboring not for her own comfort but for the survival of her bloodline. Did it come easily to her? No. She bore hardship, hunger, and heartbreak. Yet in the soil of her sacrifice grew the towering oak of freedom that Douglass became. Here lies the hidden truth: parenting, in its very difficulty, becomes the ground from which greatness may spring.

And yet, why do some claim it is easy? Because to admit the difficulty is to admit one’s vulnerability. Pride whispers that one must appear strong, unshaken, and fully capable. But Brown unmasks this deception. He teaches that honesty—with oneself and with others—is the nobler path. To say, “This is hard,” is not weakness, but courage. For in acknowledging the trial, a parent may then seek wisdom, guidance, and the companionship of others walking the same road.

What lesson then should we draw? That no mother or father is alone in their struggle. The sleepless nights, the cries that cannot be soothed, the fear of failing those who depend upon us—all these are shared across generations. The wise parent does not deny the weight, but bears it with grace, knowing that hardship is the very substance by which the bond of love is forged. Like the blacksmith who strikes iron upon the anvil, the blows of difficulty shape the parent’s heart into one of enduring compassion.

Therefore, let us carry forward the teaching of this quote: that honesty in struggle is the path to growth. Let none be deceived by the false idea that perfect parenting exists. Instead, let each parent admit their frailty, forgive their failings, and rise anew with each dawn. For children do not need perfection; they need love, persistence, and presence. And when the path feels too heavy, let parents remember the chorus of those before them who also stumbled, yet endured.

To all who hear these words, let this be your practical guide: Speak truth to yourself. Seek help when the burden grows. Rest when you can, for even the strongest must breathe. And above all, love without measure, for it is love that sustains when strength falters. In doing so, you will not find ease, but you will find meaning. And meaning, more than ease, is what gives life its glory.

Thus is the wisdom of Karamo Brown’s words—an echo of ancient voices and a beacon for those yet to walk the long and sacred road of parenthood. For though parenting is hard, in its hardness lies the noblest labor of the human spirit.