Rachel Cusk Quotes

I don't have children of my own so I can't say I know the plight of being a parent, but I can kinda understand some of the complexities of it.

Parenthood is a very, very intense experience.

Being a parent is too complicated and emotional a task for magical techniques and miracle cures.

My position in the family turned out to be a lucky one; I bore neither the brunt of my mother's newness to parenthood nor the force of her middle-aged traumas, as my younger sister, Ruth, did.

When you have children, your perspective on the parent-child relationship alters.

I have two kids, and anyone who has a kid in order to feel loved is going to be in trouble because kids are first and foremost all about themselves. They'll say they love you, but 10 seconds later they'll turn on you.

Being a parent can be overwhelming at times, but it's something we're figuring out as we go.

Having a child is difficult enough already, bringing with it a whole range of wonderful challenges, and we shouldn't be trying to guilt parents into 'there is just one way to do it'.

It was extremely hard going from being a parent of one to a parent of three, because now all these instant decisions have to be made about how you balance out the time and attention between them.

Things parents say to children are oftentimes not heard, but in some cases you pick up on things that your parent would like to see you have done.

I always assumed I'd be a terribly patient mum but it turns out I'm not!

In a big family the first child is kind of like the first pancake. If it's not perfect, that's okay, there are a lot more coming along.

Raising kids is part joy and part guerrilla warfare.

I think being a parent is the most challenging thing you do. That's why we're here. It's at the heart of what it is to be a human being. It's the ultimate experience because it questions everything about who you are. But it's difficult.

There comes a moment as a parent when you realize you will no longer be the center of your child's universe.

We had a kid. The kid was awesome. She didn't fall asleep easily. We complained about it. We got frustrated. But we didn't look for an out. We just accepted that this was part of parenting.

Parents have to understand: if your kid isn't you, don't blame the kid.

I love my kids, they are amazing children, but they drive me bananas sometimes. And sometimes, I want to sell them on eBay... but I'm not going to.

The character and history of each child may be a new and poetic experience to the parent, if he will let it.

I think the biggest change has been realizing I now have three children.

When you have girl children they torture you!

It is always fragile, being a parent.

Different parents have different standards for their children.

I often find that the best parents are the ones without children.

You can't expect your children to be perfect.