--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing you realize as you get older is…" description: "\"The thing you realize as you get older is that parents don't know what the Hell they're doing and neither will you when you get to be a parent\" — Mark ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/mark-hoppus-3737_hell_the-thing-you-realize-as-you-get-older-i_1402489.jpg" --- # The thing you realize as you get older is that parents… ![“The thing you realize as you get older is that parents don't know what the Hell they're doing and neither will you when you get to be a parent” quote by Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/mark-hoppus-3737_hell_the-thing-you-realize-as-you-get-older-i_1402489.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/mark-hoppus-3737_hell_the-thing-you-realize-as-you-get-older-i_1402489.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/mark-hoppus-3737_hell_the-thing-you-realize-as-you-get-older-i_1402489.jpg) > “The thing you realize as you get older is that parents don't know what the Hell they're doing and neither will you when you get to be a parent” [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Aging reveals parental uncertainty and the inevitability of learning through experience. **In simple terms:** Parents are often unsure, and we’ll be too. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty in parenting. Themes parenting growth humility Mood reflective honest Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - family life - career transitions - mentorship - personal development Key Concepts generational learning self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - How can you prepare for unknown parenting challenges? - What support systems help navigate uncertainty? A Different Perspective May cause anxiety about parental competence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know what I'm doing as a parent at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-faris/i-don-t-know-what-i-m-doing-as-a-parent-at-all/) [Anna Faris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-faris/) > [I understand the term Yolo, but its certain things you should stop doing when you become a parent. Nevertheless, you are in control of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-herring/i-understand-the-term-yolo-but-its-certain-things-you-should-stop/) Marquis Herring > [So I just come to realize that the older I grew the more introvert I become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-i-just-come-to-realize-that-the-older-i-grew-the-more-introvert-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do want to write again. I hope to. But it's also important for me to realize, as I get older, that I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lloyd-webber/i-do-want-to-write-again-i-hope-to-but-it-s-also-important-for-me-to/) [Andrew Lloyd Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lloyd-webber/) > [You realize as you get older that tomorrow is not guaranteed for anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/you-realize-as-you-get-older-that-tomorrow-is-not-guaranteed-for/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [I realize as I get older that stand-up is a huge part of who I am. I think I'll do it for the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-gold/i-realize-as-i-get-older-that-stand-up-is-a-huge-part-of-who-i-am-i/) [Judy Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-gold/) > [That's what you realize when you get older, how much you love the game and what a great game it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/that-s-what-you-realize-when-you-get-older-how-much-you-love-the-game/) [Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/) > [Parents don't understand kids and kids don't understand parents. My parents were divorced when I was really young and I went to live with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/parents-don-t-understand-kids-and-kids-don-t-understand-parents-my/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [“I’m not smarter than you, I’m more knowledgeable than you, and that’s only because I’m older than you. Parents are always more knowledgeable than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/i-m-not-smarter-than-you-i-m-more-knowledgeable-than-you-and-that-s/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [A lot of older parents worry about being older parents. I hear people say, 'I don't want to be too old to play baseball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/a-lot-of-older-parents-worry-about-being-older-parents-i-hear-people/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [You know when you have a child and then as you get older, your parents start becoming more like your friends and then telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-shires/you-know-when-you-have-a-child-and-then-as-you-get-older-your-parents/) [Amanda Shires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-shires/) > [As America is growing older, there are more and more families caring for older parents and grandparents, and it's extremely expensive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/as-america-is-growing-older-there-are-more-and-more-families-caring/) [Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/) > [Call home at least once a week. It's a proven fact that we call home less the older we get. And that's wrong. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/call-home-at-least-once-a-week-it-s-a-proven-fact-that-we-call-home/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“There are points in time when you grow older than your parents. Or come up on them at least. I look at my father,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcnamara/there-are-points-in-time-when-you-grow-older-than-your-parents-or/) [Amy McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcnamara/) > [On the average, older parents are more flexible, tolerant, understanding, and happy in child care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/on-the-average-older-parents-are-more-flexible-tolerant-understanding/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) ## More by Mark Hoppus > [Ideas are really what interest me in producing a band, if I can bring something productive to the project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/ideas-are-really-what-interest-me-in-producing-a-band-if-i-can-bring/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [All the really pretty girls get pregnant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/all-the-really-pretty-girls-get-pregnant/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [There's also this weirdness to California, this darkness, it's a place where people come to follow their dreams and sometimes don't make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/there-s-also-this-weirdness-to-california-this-darkness-it-s-a-place/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [I would probably say, 'Don't worry so much about stuff as you grow up.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/i-would-probably-say-don-t-worry-so-much-about-stuff-as-you-grow-up/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [The process of introducing people to new music is amazing. It's a gift. One of the best parts of any day is when someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/the-process-of-introducing-people-to-new-music-is-amazing-it-s-a-gift/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [I still feel like we're the underdogs, but I feel like people respect us now. People might not like our band or love our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/i-still-feel-like-we-re-the-underdogs-but-i-feel-like-people-respect/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [I don't have a problem being on 'MTV,' and I don't have a problem being on the radio. I actually like it. So there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/i-don-t-have-a-problem-being-on-mtv-and-i-don-t-have-a-problem-being/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [Make yourself do something stupid so when you really do something stupid you won't feel so bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/make-yourself-do-something-stupid-so-when-you-really-do-something/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [It really expresses a man in pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/it-really-expresses-a-man-in-pain/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [I feel like anyone can be a kid forever as long as you have that mindset and attitude towards the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/i-feel-like-anyone-can-be-a-kid-forever-as-long-as-you-have-that/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [I dated the same girl all through high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/i-dated-the-same-girl-all-through-high-school/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [Now everything is available at the push of a button, and that thrill of the search is gone. With vinyl albums and special edition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/now-everything-is-available-at-the-push-of-a-button-and-that-thrill/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [I think age is just a stupid number.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/i-think-age-is-just-a-stupid-number/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [“Oh my God, is it really the womens'? Sorry...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/oh-my-god-is-it-really-the-womens-sorry/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) > [When I was growing up skateboarding, a bunch of friends and I went to this thrift store and as we were leaving I jumped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/when-i-was-growing-up-skateboarding-a-bunch-of-friends-and-i-went-to/) [Mark Hoppus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) [Explore all 123 Mark Hoppus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/) ## 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": "The thing you realize as you get older is that parents don't know what the Hell they're doing and neither will you when you get to be a parent", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Hoppus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/the-thing-you-realize-as-you-get-older-is-that-parents-don-t-know/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Child" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/the-thing-you-realize-as-you-get-older-is-that-parents-don-t-know/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/mark-hoppus-3737_hell_the-thing-you-realize-as-you-get-older-i_1402489.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/mark-hoppus-3737_hell_the-thing-you-realize-as-you-get-older-i_1402489.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/mark-hoppus-3737_hell_the-thing-you-realize-as-you-get-older-i_1402489.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The thing you realize as you get older is that parents don't know what the Hell they're doing and neither…” — Mark Hoppus", "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": "Mark Hoppus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hoppus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The thing you realize as you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/the-thing-you-realize-as-you-get-older-is-that-parents-don-t-know/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hoppus/the-thing-you-realize-as-you-get-older-is-that-parents-don-t-know/#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 } } ] } ```