---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think that anyone can prepare for…"
description: "\"I don't think that anyone can prepare for raising a child. I think it's one of those jobs that is far more overwhelming than you could ever expect and ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33e/lisa-edelstein-16266_child_i-don-t-think-that-anyone-can-prepare-fo_828903.jpg"
---

#  I don't think that anyone can prepare for raising a child…

![“I don't think that anyone can prepare for raising a child. I think it's one of those jobs that is far more overwhelming than you could ever expect and far more satisfying than you can ever expect.” quote by Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33e/lisa-edelstein-16266_child_i-don-t-think-that-anyone-can-prepare-fo_828903.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33e/lisa-edelstein-16266_child_i-don-t-think-that-anyone-can-prepare-fo_828903.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33e/lisa-edelstein-16266_child_i-don-t-think-that-anyone-can-prepare-fo_828903.jpg)

> “I don't think that anyone can prepare for raising a child. I think it's one of those jobs that is far more overwhelming than you could ever expect and far more satisfying than you can ever expect.”

[Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Parenting is unexpectedly overwhelming yet deeply rewarding, surpassing any prior expectations.

**In simple terms:** Parenting is both hard and rewarding.

Key Takeaway

Embrace the journey.

Themes

parenting expectations overwhelm fulfillment

Mood

empathetic realistic

Type

advice personal narrative

When to use this quote

- new parent support groups
- family planning
- self‑care routines

Key Concepts

developmental psychology family dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- What surprised you most about parenting?
- How can you balance overwhelm with joy?

A Different Perspective

Support systems are crucial for coping.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Raising children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raising-children/) [Satisfying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfying/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [Raising a child, whether or not it is yours, is like Nautilus of the heart and soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/raising-a-child-whether-or-not-it-is-yours-is-like-nautilus-of-the/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [ Years ago someone wrote \[about me\]: 'She characterizes Molly Weasley as a mother who is only at home looking after the children.' I was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/years-ago-someone-wrote-about-me-she-characterizes-molly-weasley-as-a/)

[J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/)

> [Those who have gone through a divorce know the pain and special challenges of raising a child under such circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mcgavick/those-who-have-gone-through-a-divorce-know-the-pain-and-special/)

[Mike McGavick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mcgavick/)

> [The end product of child raising is not the child but the parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pittman/the-end-product-of-child-raising-is-not-the-child-but-the-parent/)

[Frank Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pittman/)

> [Hillary Clinton famously talked about how raising a child takes a village. Except our society isn't set up that way. We're organized in nuclear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-weymouth/hillary-clinton-famously-talked-about-how-raising-a-child-takes-a/)

[Katharine Weymouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-weymouth/)

> [I'm raising a child, and it's public. The media creates these dramas, and that's not what's happening in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-moynahan/i-m-raising-a-child-and-it-s-public-the-media-creates-these-dramas/)

[Bridget Moynahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-moynahan/)

> [It has been said that the hardest job in the world is raising a child, but the people who says this have probably never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-has-been-said-that-the-hardest-job-in-the-world-is-raising-a-child/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Raising a child is very much like building a skyscraper. If the first few stories are slightly out of line. no one will notice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bishop/raising-a-child-is-very-much-like-building-a-skyscraper-if-the-first/)

[Jim Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bishop/)

> [Raising a child is an on-the-job kind of thing. There arent a whole lot of manuals for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-elder/raising-a-child-is-an-on-the-job-kind-of-thing-there-arent-a-whole/)

[Larry Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-elder/)

> [I think the best thing a parent can do, when raising a child, is simply get out of their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-think-the-best-thing-a-parent-can-do-when-raising-a-child-is-simply/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [Raising a child is the only relationship you have where if you do it right, it will end in separation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-foner-gyllenhaal/raising-a-child-is-the-only-relationship-you-have-where-if-you-do-it/)

[Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-foner-gyllenhaal/)

> [You spend some time raising a child in London, carrying it around on one side of your body - it puts your back out!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-spend-some-time-raising-a-child-in-london-carrying-it-around-on/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [In Taiwan there's a saying: Raising a child is more important than giving birth. Raising a child is greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chien-ming-wang/in-taiwan-there-s-a-saying-raising-a-child-is-more-important-than/)

[Chien-Ming Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chien-ming-wang/)

> [Raising a child is like taking care of someone who's on way too many shrooms, while you yourself are on a moderate amount of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-funches/raising-a-child-is-like-taking-care-of-someone-who-s-on-way-too-many/)

Ron Funches

> [Motherhood has completely changed me. It's just about like the most completely humbling experience that I've ever had. I think that it puts you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-keaton/motherhood-has-completely-changed-me-it-s-just-about-like-the-most/)

[Diane Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-keaton/)

## More by Lisa Edelstein

> [After much consideration, I am moving onward with a combination of disappointment at leaving behind a character I have loved playing for seven years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/after-much-consideration-i-am-moving-onward-with-a-combination-of/)

[Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/)

> [I heard I won 'best butt crack' on television recently. It's true. I did it, you guys. I made it. I wish I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/i-heard-i-won-best-butt-crack-on-television-recently-it-s-true-i-did/)

[Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/)

> [There are so many good roles for women out there, I don't understand it when people say the role choices are fewer as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/there-are-so-many-good-roles-for-women-out-there-i-don-t-understand/)

[Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/)

> [Well first of all, I think the phrase 'jump the shark' has jumped the shark. I read it in every article and I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/well-first-of-all-i-think-the-phrase-jump-the-shark-has-jumped-the/)

[Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/)

> [Well, I don't think just because people are in a relationship that they're happy. I don't think relationships necessarily make people happy. You just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/well-i-don-t-think-just-because-people-are-in-a-relationship-that/)

[Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/)

> [Everybody in the world has a different reason for wishing they could say things that most people know not to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/everybody-in-the-world-has-a-different-reason-for-wishing-they-could/)

[Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/)

> [You know what, I've always been a smarty-pants, and the only thing that goes wrong now is that people know that I play a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/you-know-what-i-ve-always-been-a-smarty-pants-and-the-only-thing-that/)

[Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/)

> [I think writers like to see how people bring their words to life, and it's always surprising. Always, no matter what, whether it's good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/i-think-writers-like-to-see-how-people-bring-their-words-to-life-and/)

[Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/)

> [It's always weird to shoot when you're really basically not wearing anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/it-s-always-weird-to-shoot-when-you-re-really-basically-not-wearing/)

[Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/)

> [When you play the same character for a long time, you have a shorthand. You get onto the set, you put on your outfit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/when-you-play-the-same-character-for-a-long-time-you-have-a-shorthand/)

[Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/)

> [When I wake up, I always drink tons of Guayaki organic yerba mate tea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/when-i-wake-up-i-always-drink-tons-of-guayaki-organic-yerba-mate-tea/)

[Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/)

> [I think scrin writers like to see how people bring their words to life, and it's always surprising. Always, no matter what, whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/i-think-scrin-writers-like-to-see-how-people-bring-their-words-to/)

[Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/)

> [No day would be complete without chocolate. My favorite: Vosges Creole bar - it's dark chocolate with cocoa nibs. Holy Toledo, that thing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/no-day-would-be-complete-without-chocolate-my-favorite-vosges-creole/)

[Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/)

> [For me, just being how old I am, I know I don't want to be a single mom. I really would rather make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/for-me-just-being-how-old-i-am-i-know-i-don-t-want-to-be-a-single-mom/)

[Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/)

> [I never intended on moving to 'The Good Wife' permanently, but in terms of a next move and something to do to make myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/i-never-intended-on-moving-to-the-good-wife-permanently-but-in-terms/)

[Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/)

[Explore all 40 Lisa Edelstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/)

## 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": "I don't think that anyone can prepare for raising a child. I think it's one of those jobs that is far more overwhelming than you could ever expect and far more satisfying than you can ever expect.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Lisa Edelstein"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/i-don-t-think-that-anyone-can-prepare-for-raising-a-child-i-think-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Child"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/i-don-t-think-that-anyone-can-prepare-for-raising-a-child-i-think-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33e/lisa-edelstein-16266_child_i-don-t-think-that-anyone-can-prepare-fo_828903.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33e/lisa-edelstein-16266_child_i-don-t-think-that-anyone-can-prepare-fo_828903.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33e/lisa-edelstein-16266_child_i-don-t-think-that-anyone-can-prepare-fo_828903.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't think that anyone can prepare for raising a child. I think it's one of those jobs that is far more…” — Lisa Edelstein",
                "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": "Lisa Edelstein",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't think that anyone can...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/i-don-t-think-that-anyone-can-prepare-for-raising-a-child-i-think-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/i-don-t-think-that-anyone-can-prepare-for-raising-a-child-i-think-it/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
