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Odd jobs.

That's what a big part of parenting is comprised of. I went to college to get a degree and skills in a field of study, so I would know how to do all the jobs that were required of me. I had kids, and suddenly a list of new job titles popped up for things I didn't even know I would have to do, like:

Sippy Cup Lid Fastener

I am the person in charge of making sure this lid is on right because if it isn't, that bad boy is going to pop off when someone throws it across the room, or I sit on it in the middle of church and have to go up for communion with a soaking wet ass.

Crumb Collector

Off tables, chairs, out of beds. No place is too big; no crumb is too small.

Pillow Enforcer

This is a bi-hourly issue in my house where my kids run around like a category four hurricane and pull every pillow in our house off their base. Pillows are moving around in mid air like they are controlled by Carrie-like telekinesis.

Cat Rescuer

There is nothing more important to my cats than not being put inside the toilet.

*This applies to all household pets.

Blanket Getter

Everyone always needs a blanket. Even if it's 97 degrees outside, someone, somewhere in my home, will ask for a blanket. Instead of vibrant, energetic toddlers, my living room often looks like the sitting area of a nursing home. Except instead of people knitting, they are eating Goldfish crackers out of Sippy cups and putting puzzles together with the wrong pieces.

Toilet Paper Re-Roller

Because that four-mile trail of toilet tissue isn't going to roll itself back around the cardboard tube that someone chewed on before casually tossing into the toilet water.

Vomit Catcher

Whether it's in a bucket, a trash can, a blanket, a towel or your bare hands.

Pocket Investigator

It only takes one pocket full of tissue to travel that daunting journey through the wash-and-dry cycle to make sure you never skip checking a pocket again.

Word Repeater

Sometimes fast, sometimes ridiculously slow, always more than 40 times because the toddler brain does not respond to anything that isn't presented in the form of food, bright colors or fun sounds.

Snack Deliverer

No one sympathizes more with delivery drivers than parents. Except we don't get paid, and the request often comes in the second your butt cheek grazes a couch fiber. The tips are also worse: "Mommy, the goldfish taste better when the other side is facing up."

Back Scratcher

Okay, maybe I don't mind this one so much. Probably it's because they're my babies. But, I draw the line when someone says, "Can you scratch my butt?"

Searcher of Socks

If I had a dollar for every sock that lost a pair, I would be able to keep buying socks instead of wondering when the day will come when I finally find a gigantic pile of discarded singles.

A collective list of useless skills, which will be useless beyond the first years. A lifetime of memories and the chance to look back on people who have kids after you shake your head and say, "I remember those days. Hey, while you're up, could you turn my goldfish crackers, so they're facing the other way?"

- Christina Antus

Christina Antus lives in Denver with her husband, three kids and two cats who still haven't caught the red dot. When she's not neglecting laundry, or avoiding the grocery store, she's writing and making mediocre meals for her family. You can find her overthinking things on her blog, or you can follow her on Facebook.