The most overwhelming yet eventually rewarding part of being a parent is that there are no days off from it. Once you sign up to be a mom or a dad, that label is with you for life, unless you fully renounce it. Even those who share custody of their children and may not be under the same roof as them all the time have a responsibility to show up for them if they ask. It is a sacrifice that has to be made.

That being said, we all know that there are plenty of parents who fail to live up to expectations when it comes to this duty. While it is understandable to have some frustrations with the full-time nature of parenting, those who shirk their role at every turn should not be surprised when the consequences come back to bite them. It’s the definition of making one’s bed and having to lie in it.