Family Ties: Thoughts on Parenting
As is customary on a weekend, I hope you’re sleeping, but if you’re not, here is your weekend mantra.
As is customary on a weekend, I hope you’re sleeping, but if you’re not, here is your weekend mantra.
I am thankful for living to see another day and I will use this day to help everyone I can.
I like to post a picture every day to let people know we are alive together. If it’s just words, it’s easy to just gloss over everything. But a personal picture let’s you get to know the writer. So, here is a fun photo I took this week.
My nephew has never been very fond of me for some reason. Even as a baby he didn’t like me holding him and as he got older my brother and his family moved further away. So, it’s been hard to build a relationship with him. He is 5 now and starting to come around. I play with him and give him hugs. This past week he even let me sit on the couch and pick out a show to watch! It’s the small things we have to enjoy, right? One day he’ll be too old to even care, so I’ll take the win now while it’s available.
Watching my kids grow up as been an interesting experience. My oldest is now 14 and my youngest is 9. Older adults tell me I’ll be sad when all three leave and I believe them. I’m sitting next to my youngest right now, watching her eat some left over ham for lunch while watching iCarly on her iPad. It’s not the worst show in the world, but I’ve seen better.
When my last child finally leaves the house, I imagine I’ll be bored to tears. What will I do with this large house and empty rooms? What will my car be used for if not to drive children to karate, cheerleading, color guard, marching band, and everything else they have learned over these last few years?
I guess it won’t be all bad. At least my car won’t have to work so hard. No more fighting over the TV, games that aren’t played “correctly,” and borrowing objects without permission. No more knocks at the bedroom door when I’m trying to “talk to my wife.”
I’m not blind to the end of the road, however. I signed up for this ride knowing it has an end and if the ride didn’t end, then it wouldn’t be any fun. It’s the fact our lives come to an end, and we know this fact, which makes life special. It’s why we have camera and try to capture everything we can all the time.
When I was a new parent and struggling, everyone told me it won’t always be this way.
I know.