I never want to take the important things in life for granted. Today I did some stuff for my dad and in the process screwed up some. I can't think of anything I hate more in life then screwing up. But I did. So the appropriate apology was made and I'll try to learn from my mistake. By the time I left my folks my dad had done his own way of parenting an adult child in letting me know that while the mistake I made was a not okay it happens and you move on. He's always been a great parent role model for me in that way. When I was a kid I could always count on him to yell at me when I screwed up and he taught me how to take ownership of my screw ups but I never felt unloved or of lesser value because of it, I just felt like I wanted to do better the next time.
We've had some adjustments to go through this year with N being in Jr. High. Sometimes she's messed up. I hope I am able to show her that she's not less than because of it and I hope I'm able to ensure that my love for her is never less than just because she needs a little more parenting right now. It's good to need parenting once in a while. To realize that we're not on our own to learn.
I watched a show tonight. It's a relational show. It made me cry. There was a woman learning that she's pregnant (while only engaged and not yet married) and another mom that lost custody of her children to the dad who had been a stay at home dad. She wasn't a bad mom, but the judge felt that the kids should be with him because he had been the primary care giver thus far.
I never want to take being a mom for granted. I remember what if felt life to find out I was pregnant with N. I was scared to death. I felt so unprepared and I felt like it was not good timing at all. When Cman came along I was better prepared, but still scared and I really wasn't prepared for him to be so different from his sister. But I love my kids and the variety they bring into the home. It's fun when N does something like dash or me and I see that in her, same with cman. But it's also fun to see their individuality too. I never want to take my children for granted. To me the greatest privilege we have in life is parenting. I enjoy working, but I love my life as a wife and mother. I have a feeling the next 10 years are going to be interesting and somewhat scary. :)
6 comments:
hug those kids!
Everyone messes up. It's very good when others acknowledge that and do not expect perfection. That always makes me want to try harder.
Also, it is easy to take the people and things in life that are important for granted. This is probably related to the reason that it is easy to fall into routines in life. It doesn't take as much effort.
I want to find some kind of balance when teaching NJ about mistakes. I don't want to hurt his self-esteem but I know there needs to be standards so he can learn self discipline.
The book I just read said not to hide my mistakes from my toddler--admit that I forgot to buy his special snack or turn on his favorite tv show. : )
My father never talked to me about learning from mistakes. He only gave me a look of disgust and disappointment. My mom however was a very forgiving person and to this day she still shows how not to give up on someone.
I'm glad you see parenting as a privledge. I admit that I don't always treat it as a privledge myself. I think if everyone saw parenting the way you do, I would be out of a job.
Good parenting. Keep it up.
I have a friend going through the experience of her husband having an affair and wanting to leave her and her 3 kids. I've been realizing I have a lot to be thankful for!
Post a Comment