16 Things That Are Very, Very Hard to Do If You Have Young Children

Getting drunk is the easy part, y'all. It's the whole being hungover part that is so, so, so hard when you have children.

Source: Flickr user David Boyle

I know, I know, some of you guys have amazingly well-behaved children and eat out at fancy restaurants most nights of the week. Good for you. Me, not so much. It's not worth the stress or the dirty looks from the childless diners, so I save it for adult nights out.

Source: Flickr user jenny downing

Been there, done that — and let me tell you, that heaping hot bowl of mac 'n' cheese never looked so good.

Source: Flickr user Pat Castaldo

Oh, sleeping in. I long for days when I can sleep in — and my husband rocks and does try to let me sleep in from time to time, but it never actually happens. From the kids being crazy loud to one of them wanting to come in my room to ask me if I am sleeping to the fact that my body simply wakes up around 7:30 a.m., sleeping in is like the unicorn of parenting and very, very hard when you have kids.

Source: Flickr user Brandon Atkinson

If you're a parent, particularly one with a child under the age of 2, I'm gonna say that a sick day is damn near impossible.

Source: Flickr user Amy Wilbanks

Puppies are great. I'm not knocking puppies. What does give me a bit of pause is the puppy and my toddler double-teaming me with the whole messing up the floor, ruining my belongings, and not sleeping all night part. I'll happily wait on this one, thanks.

Source: Flickr user smlp.co.uk

Kids are simply not in the business of rushing. It's maddening at times, but if you are late for something and your kiddos are in tow, then you might as well call whomever you are meeting and tell them you will be late. Again.

Source: Flickr user Eden, Janine and Jim

Sure, you can argue with your spouse with children around, but not without doing it in some weird passive-aggressive code. And let's be honest: spelling out the swear words is not nearly as effective. OK, I know, the occasional argument can not be put off until the kids are older, but at least we can table it until after they hit the sack.

Source: Flickr user Emily

Before I had kids, there would be days where I would just do nothing. Literally nothing. Now, doing nothing does not even exist. It's like this weird thing that people without kids do that I simply can't wrap my head around anymore. And on the off-chance that someone is watching my kiddos and I could actually do nothing, my mama mind literally cannot go there.

Source: Flickr user Tony Alter

I'm not talking about going to get your nails done at a salon (that is downright delightful). I'm talking about doing your own nails at home — a task not for the faint of heart if you've got a small child lurking in the shadows.

Source: Flickr user KeWynn Lee

I find that keeping most of my house clean is generally an attainable goal with my children around — the exception being the kitchen. Cleaning the kitchen with young kids around is like trying to eat an Oreo while brushing your teeth; it makes me laugh just thinking about it.

Source: Flickr user Alice Carrier

I don't like to watch the news to begin with, but if I even try to catch a small glimpse of what is going on in the world, my kiddos will always enter the room when the reporters start talking about a mountain lion on the loose. And cue the nightmares.

Source: Flickr user Lars Plougmann

Honestly, I never really gave much thought to riding an escalator before I had a 2-year-old who refused to hold my hand and get off a crowded escalator in the mall.

Source: Flickr user Matthew Helmer

Studying is very, very hard to do if you have children. It's not impossible, but the constant interruptions make it pretty darn tough.

Source: Flickr user Harald Groven

Yep, shop. Be it for groceries, clothes, electronics, home goods, or even toys. It doesn't matter what you are shopping for; the fact remains that it will be much, much harder if you've got a small child with you.

Source: Flickr user Gareth Williams