--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At its best, parenthood was a challenge…" description: "\"“At its best, parenthood was a challenge. At its worst, it was a struggle through quicksand.”\" — Linda Barrett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4f/linda-barrett-37163_quote_at-its-best-parenthood-was-a-challenge-a_2224504.jpg" --- # At its best, parenthood was a challenge. At its worst, it… ![“At its best, parenthood was a challenge. At its worst, it was a struggle through quicksand.” quote by Linda Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4f/linda-barrett-37163_quote_at-its-best-parenthood-was-a-challenge-a_2224504.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4f/linda-barrett-37163_quote_at-its-best-parenthood-was-a-challenge-a_2224504.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4f/linda-barrett-37163_quote_at-its-best-parenthood-was-a-challenge-a_2224504.jpg) > ““At its best, parenthood was a challenge. At its worst, it was a struggle through quicksand.”” [Linda Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-barrett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parenthood can be both rewarding and exhausting, depending on circumstances and support. **In simple terms:** Parenthood can be rewarding or exhausting. Key Takeaway Recognize and address challenges early. Themes family parenthood challenge struggle support Mood empathetic reflective Type advice reflective When to use this quote - new parents - single parents - families in crisis - parenting workshops Key Concepts psychology stress management Questions to Reflect On - How do you support parents in your community? - What resources alleviate parental stress? A Different Perspective Support systems are crucial; without them, struggles intensify. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Parenthood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenthood/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) ## Related quotes > [“From this point forward, you don’t even know how to quit in life.” ~ Aaron Lauritsen, ‘100 Days Drive”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-lauritsen/from-this-point-forward-you-don-t-even-know-how-to-quit-in-life-aaron/) [Aaron Lauritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-lauritsen/) > [“In the mystifying world that was Victorian parenthood, obedience took precedence over all considerations of affection and happiness, and that odd, painful conviction remained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/in-the-mystifying-world-that-was-victorian-parenthood-obedience-took/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [“Delightful leadership, just like parenthood, is a responsibility, NOT a privilege.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi-liran/delightful-leadership-just-like-parenthood-is-a-responsibility-not-a/) [Avi Liran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi-liran/) > [I will veto any spending bill that contains funding for Planned Parenthood, facilities that perform abortion and all government family planning schemes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/i-will-veto-any-spending-bill-that-contains-funding-for-planned/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Parenthood is one of the toughest, non-paying jobs there is that offers nothing but unconditional benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-s/parenthood-is-one-of-the-toughest-non-paying-jobs-there-is-that/) [Laura S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-s/) > [When you're 5 ft. 5 in., have a round Jewish face and wear glasses and refuse to wear contacts, you're going to get offered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-moranis/when-you-re-5-ft-5-in-have-a-round-jewish-face-and-wear-glasses-and/) [Rick Moranis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-moranis/) > [“Parents are programmed to want the best for their kids, regardless of what they get in return. That's what love is supposed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/parents-are-programmed-to-want-the-best-for-their-kids-regardless-of/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [Unlike Mitt Romney, President Obama is standing up for Planned Parenthood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bev-perdue/unlike-mitt-romney-president-obama-is-standing-up-for-planned/) [Bev Perdue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bev-perdue/) > [“Frankie's chief virtue in my book is the way he talks about his kids.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/frankie-s-chief-virtue-in-my-book-is-the-way-he-talks-about-his-kids/) [Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/) > [Occasionally some individuals let the seeming ordinariness of life dampen their spirits. Though actually coping and growning, others lack the quiet, inner-soul satisfaction that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/occasionally-some-individuals-let-the-seeming-ordinariness-of-life/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [We also need to make sure women can be in charge of their reproductive health. We can't defund places like Planned Parenthood, where women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-teigen/we-also-need-to-make-sure-women-can-be-in-charge-of-their/) [Chrissy Teigen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-teigen/) > [I resisted parenthood for a long, long time. But having a daughter has given me a sense of hopefulness that I didn't have before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-meyer/i-resisted-parenthood-for-a-long-long-time-but-having-a-daughter-has/) [George Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-meyer/) > [The less obvious hurdle is that of preparing parents emotionally and putting forward realistic images of parenthood and motherhood. There also needs to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/the-less-obvious-hurdle-is-that-of-preparing-parents-emotionally-and/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [“Once the switch of parenthood is thrown, it changes you for ever & you can never escape the extra pull of humanity it gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hammond/once-the-switch-of-parenthood-is-thrown-it-changes-you-for-ever-you/) [Richard hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hammond/) > [It's difficult for people to come to the understanding that only a small minority of the people ever really get the word about life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/it-s-difficult-for-people-to-come-to-the-understanding-that-only-a/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) ## More by Linda Barrett > [“A marriage at the breaking point required a lot of untangling between two people. A lot of talking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-barrett/a-marriage-at-the-breaking-point-required-a-lot-of-untangling-between/) [Linda Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-barrett/) > [“You’re facing it now, and it’s never too late.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-barrett/you-re-facing-it-now-and-it-s-never-too-late/) [Linda Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-barrett/) > [“Quincy, however, didn’t seem ready to lose his new friend. He tucked his head under Ashley’s arm, looked up with adoring eyes and licked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-barrett/quincy-however-didn-t-seem-ready-to-lose-his-new-friend-he-tucked-his/) [Linda Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-barrett/) > [“I’ve read that the dying often wait to be by themselves. They need the freedom to go, with nobody holding them back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-barrett/i-ve-read-that-the-dying-often-wait-to-be-by-themselves-they-need-the/) [Linda Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-barrett/) > [“crying by this time, but so was I, and I wasn’t ashamed. Grief had a way of sneaking up on a person. It lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-barrett/crying-by-this-time-but-so-was-i-and-i-wasn-t-ashamed-grief-had-a-way/) [Linda Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-barrett/) > [“Crazy like a mother.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-barrett/crazy-like-a-mother/) [Linda Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-barrett/) > [“I want you to remember this—you and I are in this life together. All the way. We don’t run just because we get sacked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-barrett/i-want-you-to-remember-this-you-and-i-are-in-this-life-together-all/) [Linda Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-barrett/) > [“The trouble with perfectionists,” he mused, “is that they always think about the occasional failure instead of all the successes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-barrett/the-trouble-with-perfectionists-he-mused-is-that-they-always-think/) [Linda Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-barrett/) > [“You’re here to work with Sandy Page.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-barrett/you-re-here-to-work-with-sandy-page/) [Linda Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-barrett/) > [“That dog’s smarter than I am.” She winked at Ash, and Ashley giggled. Then she left the house. Kristin gazed through the window and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-barrett/that-dog-s-smarter-than-i-am-she-winked-at-ash-and-ashley-giggled/) [Linda Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-barrett/) > [“Because of you. I fell in love with you, Alexis Brown, and I don’t want to lose you over a glass of champagne.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-barrett/because-of-you-i-fell-in-love-with-you-alexis-brown-and-i-don-t-want/) [Linda Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-barrett/) [Explore all 12 Linda Barrett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-barrett/) ## More Parenthood quotes > [It's difficult for people to come to the understanding that only a small minority of the people ever really get the word about life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/it-s-difficult-for-people-to-come-to-the-understanding-that-only-a/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [“Once the switch of parenthood is thrown, it changes you for ever & you can never escape the extra pull of humanity it gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hammond/once-the-switch-of-parenthood-is-thrown-it-changes-you-for-ever-you/) [Richard hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hammond/) > [The less obvious hurdle is that of preparing parents emotionally and putting forward realistic images of parenthood and motherhood. There also needs to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/the-less-obvious-hurdle-is-that-of-preparing-parents-emotionally-and/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [I resisted parenthood for a long, long time. But having a daughter has given me a sense of hopefulness that I didn't have before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-meyer/i-resisted-parenthood-for-a-long-long-time-but-having-a-daughter-has/) [George Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-meyer/) > [We also need to make sure women can be in charge of their reproductive health. We can't defund places like Planned Parenthood, where women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-teigen/we-also-need-to-make-sure-women-can-be-in-charge-of-their/) [Chrissy Teigen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-teigen/) > [Occasionally some individuals let the seeming ordinariness of life dampen their spirits. Though actually coping and growning, others lack the quiet, inner-soul satisfaction that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/occasionally-some-individuals-let-the-seeming-ordinariness-of-life/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [“Frankie's chief virtue in my book is the way he talks about his kids.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/frankie-s-chief-virtue-in-my-book-is-the-way-he-talks-about-his-kids/) [Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/) > [Unlike Mitt Romney, President Obama is standing up for Planned Parenthood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bev-perdue/unlike-mitt-romney-president-obama-is-standing-up-for-planned/) [Bev Perdue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bev-perdue/) > [“Parents are programmed to want the best for their kids, regardless of what they get in return. That's what love is supposed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/parents-are-programmed-to-want-the-best-for-their-kids-regardless-of/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [When you're 5 ft. 5 in., have a round Jewish face and wear glasses and refuse to wear contacts, you're going to get offered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-moranis/when-you-re-5-ft-5-in-have-a-round-jewish-face-and-wear-glasses-and/) [Rick Moranis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-moranis/) > [Parenthood is one of the toughest, non-paying jobs there is that offers nothing but unconditional benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-s/parenthood-is-one-of-the-toughest-non-paying-jobs-there-is-that/) [Laura S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-s/) > [I will veto any spending bill that contains funding for Planned Parenthood, facilities that perform abortion and all government family planning schemes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/i-will-veto-any-spending-bill-that-contains-funding-for-planned/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [“Delightful leadership, just like parenthood, is a responsibility, NOT a privilege.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi-liran/delightful-leadership-just-like-parenthood-is-a-responsibility-not-a/) [Avi Liran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi-liran/) > [“In the mystifying world that was Victorian parenthood, obedience took precedence over all considerations of affection and happiness, and that odd, painful conviction remained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/in-the-mystifying-world-that-was-victorian-parenthood-obedience-took/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [You know, when I was nineteen, Grandpa took me on a roller coaster. Up, down, up, down. Oh, what a ride! I always wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lowell-ganz/you-know-when-i-was-nineteen-grandpa-took-me-on-a-roller-coaster-up/) Lowell Ganz [Browse all 745 Parenthood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenthood/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“At its best, parenthood was a challenge. 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