--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being a parent is as easy as counting to…" description: "\"“Being a parent is as easy as counting to one million—most anyone can do it, but it’s exhausting—and periodically rewarding (like when you reach five h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/eugene-mirman-7230_child_being-a-parent-is-as-easy-as-counting-to_3169606.png" --- # Being a parent is as easy as counting to one million—most… ![“Being a parent is as easy as counting to one million—most anyone can do it, but it’s exhausting—and periodically rewarding (like when you reach five hundred thousand)—and once you’re done, you are not sure why you did it—but it was worth it.” quote by Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/eugene-mirman-7230_child_being-a-parent-is-as-easy-as-counting-to_3169606.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/eugene-mirman-7230_child_being-a-parent-is-as-easy-as-counting-to_3169606.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/eugene-mirman-7230_child_being-a-parent-is-as-easy-as-counting-to_3169606.png) > ““Being a parent is as easy as counting to one million—most anyone can do it, but it’s exhausting—and periodically rewarding (like when you reach five hundred thousand)—and once you’re done, you are not sure why you did it—but it was worth it.”” [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parenting feels like a massive, exhausting task that yields occasional joy, leaving you questioning its purpose yet feeling it was worthwhile. **In simple terms:** Parenting is hard, tiring, but rewarding. Key Takeaway Embrace the effort and cherish the moments. Themes parenting exhaustion reward purpose reflection Mood tired hopeful reflective Type personal humorous When to use this quote - raising children - daily routines - celebrating milestones - manaling fatigue Key Concepts commitment endurance gratitude Questions to Reflect On - How do you find meaning in daily parenting challenges? - What small rewards sustain you? A Different Perspective The quote idealizes the struggle, overlooking systemic support needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Rewarding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewarding/) ## Related quotes > [On a musical level, I do find it rewarding. It's not like I want to blow my brains out while I'm playing these songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-pajo/on-a-musical-level-i-do-find-it-rewarding-it-s-not-like-i-want-to/) [David Pajo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-pajo/) > [“To put that number in perspective, if you practiced an activity four hours per day, seven days per week, it would take you about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-patrick/to-put-that-number-in-perspective-if-you-practiced-an-activity-four/) [Sean Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-patrick/) > [Learning how to be a good parent was easy in the end because I'd basically had the What Not To Do manual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cassidy/learning-how-to-be-a-good-parent-was-easy-in-the-end-because-i-d/) [David Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cassidy/) > [What parent has it easy? I just never make the difficulty of it an obstacle. I just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/what-parent-has-it-easy-i-just-never-make-the-difficulty-of-it-an/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [and i was right here , almost right within reach , but still one thousand mile away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/and-i-was-right-here-almost-right-within-reach-but-still-one-thousand/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Parenthood seems really rewarding... like martyrdom, but without the glamour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dov-davidoff/parenthood-seems-really-rewarding-like-martyrdom-but-without-the/) [Dov Davidoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dov-davidoff/) > [You don't want to be slavishly doing the same thing over and over again that everybody else has done, but at the same time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nix/you-don-t-want-to-be-slavishly-doing-the-same-thing-over-and-over/) [Matt Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nix/) > [I think it's nice to know that people in the industry are paying attention to all of the hard work you've done throughout the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-smalls/i-think-it-s-nice-to-know-that-people-in-the-industry-are-paying/) [Joan Smalls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-smalls/) > [People do stop me a lot, and what is really very rewarding is that the ages of the people who stop me vary so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-mcewan/people-do-stop-me-a-lot-and-what-is-really-very-rewarding-is-that-the/) [Geraldine McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-mcewan/) > [I'm not the kind of person that can do the same thing over and over and over, so that's why touring, playing in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-shimabukuro/i-m-not-the-kind-of-person-that-can-do-the-same-thing-over-and-over/) [Jake Shimabukuro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-shimabukuro/) > [I just want to do great work: work that inspires people... To know that you are given this gift in life and that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-blanchard/i-just-want-to-do-great-work-work-that-inspires-people-to-know-that/) [Tammy Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-blanchard/) > [I think the act of condensing months or years of work down to a couple hours of entertainment is pretty wild and extremely rewarding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-king/i-think-the-act-of-condensing-months-or-years-of-work-down-to-a/) [Richard King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-king/) > [Most enjoyable activities are not natural; they demand an effort that initially one is reluctant to make. But once the interaction starts to provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/most-enjoyable-activities-are-not-natural-they-demand-an-effort-that/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [It was difficult, but it was also rewarding. When you have a chance to see kids get better, everything makes it all worth it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brandt/it-was-difficult-but-it-was-also-rewarding-when-you-have-a-chance-to/) [Paul Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brandt/) > [Knowing at the end of the day you get to go home and you can work on your own project is super rewarding as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-keenan-bolger/knowing-at-the-end-of-the-day-you-get-to-go-home-and-you-can-work-on/) [Andrew Keenan-Bolger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-keenan-bolger/) ## More by Eugene Mirman > [The truth is, for however much my stories come out of things that have happened to me, they're not darkly or as deeply personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/the-truth-is-for-however-much-my-stories-come-out-of-things-that-have/) [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) > [I don't know what it would be like to actually play guitar. I've toured with a lot of comedians and it's never been like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/i-don-t-know-what-it-would-be-like-to-actually-play-guitar-i-ve/) [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) > [What do you think you should do if you're attacked by a bear? Play dead? No - that's a lie promoted by the bears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/what-do-you-think-you-should-do-if-you-re-attacked-by-a-bear-play/) [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) > [People used to make fun of alternative comedy because sometimes it would be someone being funny, and sometimes it was a crazy man with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/people-used-to-make-fun-of-alternative-comedy-because-sometimes-it/) [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) > [One of the best things I found out about Detroit is that bears have started returning to the city. When bears are gentrifying your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/one-of-the-best-things-i-found-out-about-detroit-is-that-bears-have/) [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) > [I don't have a kid, but I think that I would be a good father, especially if my baby liked to go out drinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/i-don-t-have-a-kid-but-i-think-that-i-would-be-a-good-father/) [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) > [“This book is a guide to living life the right way, like the Bible is for crazies and weak people (JK, bro), this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/this-book-is-a-guide-to-living-life-the-right-way-like-the-bible-is/) [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) > [In this time of recession, it is the time for invention. Did you know both the telephone and the automobile were invented during recessions?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/in-this-time-of-recession-it-is-the-time-for-invention-did-you-know/) [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) > [Of course, to avoid getting stuck in that convo with someone you dislike or feel uncomfortable around, don't be passive, be proactive. Do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/of-course-to-avoid-getting-stuck-in-that-convo-with-someone-you/) [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) > [Imagine the wars we would've avoided if prior generations had a website where they could debate tragedy and politics in terse sentences?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/imagine-the-wars-we-would-ve-avoided-if-prior-generations-had-a/) [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) > [You can do anything you want, as long as it works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/you-can-do-anything-you-want-as-long-as-it-works/) [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) > [For a short period of time, I was like, I have these jokes and if people get them, they get them. And then eventually,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/for-a-short-period-of-time-i-was-like-i-have-these-jokes-and-if/) [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) > [There was one woman who had a giant sign and on it, it just said, 'America Is Better Than Abortion.' I think she meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/there-was-one-woman-who-had-a-giant-sign-and-on-it-it-just-said/) [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) > [High School: Oh, man. This is where boys and girls go from tweens to teens and become complicated and cruel. Girls play sick mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/high-school-oh-man-this-is-where-boys-and-girls-go-from-tweens-to/) [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) > [Before going home with a guy, give him a blow job. Guys are always more relaxed after a blow job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/before-going-home-with-a-guy-give-him-a-blow-job-guys-are-always-more/) [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) [Explore all 93 Eugene Mirman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) ## More Child quotes > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [“As parents who make every effort we can to raise our children in loving security, we do not need to feel more guilt than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/as-parents-who-make-every-effort-we-can-to-raise-our-children-in/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/) [LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I'm a weirdo and an only child. That comes together to create one-woman shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-m-a-weirdo-and-an-only-child-that-comes-together-to-create-one/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/to-assist-a-child-we-must-provide-him-with-an-environment-which-will/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [if we center our lives on BMWs, RVs, VCRs, PCs and the other acronyms of consumerism, we cannot expect our children to do otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnetta-b-cole/if-we-center-our-lives-on-bmws-rvs-vcrs-pcs-and-the-other-acronyms-of/) [Johnnetta B. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnetta-b-cole/) > [Bring up your children in the way you think other peoples children should go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/bring-up-your-children-in-the-way-you-think-other-peoples-children/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) Sheila Kamerman > [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) [Browse all 10,700 Child quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Being a parent is as easy as counting to one million—most anyone can do it, but it’s exhausting—and periodically rewarding (like when you reach five hundred thousand)—and once you’re done, you are not sure why you did it—but it was worth it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eugene Mirman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/being-a-parent-is-as-easy-as-counting-to-one-million-most-anyone-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Child" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/being-a-parent-is-as-easy-as-counting-to-one-million-most-anyone-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/eugene-mirman-7230_child_being-a-parent-is-as-easy-as-counting-to_3169606.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/eugene-mirman-7230_child_being-a-parent-is-as-easy-as-counting-to_3169606.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c03/eugene-mirman-7230_child_being-a-parent-is-as-easy-as-counting-to_3169606.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Being a parent is as easy as counting to one million—most anyone can do it, but it’s exhausting—and…” — Eugene Mirman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Eugene Mirman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Being a parent is as easy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/being-a-parent-is-as-easy-as-counting-to-one-million-most-anyone-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/being-a-parent-is-as-easy-as-counting-to-one-million-most-anyone-can/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```