In Greek mythology, King Sisyphus was punished by the gods to endlessly roll a boulder up a hill, only for it to roll back down just before reaching the top. His labor was futile, repeating forever with no end or purpose.
Parents can often feel like modern-day Sisyphus. The daily grind—laundry, carpools, dinner, dishes, screen-time battles, and bedtime routines—feels like an endless cycle. No matter how hard we work today, tomorrow brings the same demands: hungry children, dirty clothes, and more tasks to manage.
It’s a tiring, repetitive process, and sometimes it feels as though the work never ends. Yet, unlike Sisyphus’ punishment, the repetition in parenting holds significant meaning. Sisyphus’ labor was senseless by design, but parenting is different. Our efforts to feed, care for, and love our children have purpose. Though the tasks repeat, the act of care itself gives them value. The ongoing nature of parenting deepens our relationships, adding meaning to the cycle.
As developmental psychologist and philosopher Alison Gopnik explains, parenting is more like gardening than carpentry. Unlike carpentry, where a child is shaped into a final product, gardening involves continuous care, cultivation, and growth. Parenting, like gardening, doesn’t have a clear end point. There is no “finishing” the work, but we tend to our children, nurturing them as they grow.
The value of parenting isn’t found in completing a task or reaching a final goal. It’s in the care we provide, day after day. Parenting is about showing up for our kids, not once but continuously. The meaning lies not in finishing the job, but in the act of being there, time and time again.
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