Write 15: Parenting

[NOTE: this is a free writing exercise, as explained here]

I know it sounds cliche but I’ve often wondered how my life would be different if I had made just a few simple changes growing up.

If I had said yes, instead of no.

Turned left, instead of right.

Done what my parents wanted me to.

NOT done what my friends wanted me to.

Even now, at 35, some of the same issues are jostling around inside my head. I no longer have just myself to worry about because I have kids. I have kids who have made some really bad decisions.

This leads me to wonder how different their lives would be now, if they had made a few simple changes.

If they had said yes, instead of no.

Turned left, instead of right.

Done what I wanted them to.

NOT done what their friends wanted them to.

It’s easy for me to look ahead and picture them looking back on their lives, asking themselves the same questions.

I believe, as a parent, I want so much for them to look back and be proud of what they’ve done. I want them to have so many more good memories than bad. I want them to be content with how things turned out.

I struggle with the balance between letting my kids have fun, and helping them grow into happy, healthy adults. I often fail to achieve that balance and the kids pay the price for that.

No parent enjoys having to enforce the rules that cause their kids to cry.

No parent enjoys making the hard decisions that cause their kids to yell, “I hate you! You don’t love me!”

No parent wants their child to hate childhood.

BUT, no parent wants their child to grow up and not know how to be a positive, successful adult.

I’m not my children’s best friend. I’m much better than that. I’m their mother and I will raise them to be the best they can be. After all, they do get to choose my nursing home.

I wish more parents would focus on making the tough, unpopular decisions so that my kids wouldn’t always think [time’s up].

Snapshot: Through The Roof

I was sitting in my car, about to drop Abbey and her friend off at the YMCA, when Abbey decided she would like to stand up through the sunroof.  It made for a good picture opportunity and she had some fun 😀

Through The Roof