Can midlife parenting become an art form? Driving our son (13) to school yesterday, I told him the big picture is for him to look back and say:
Growing up, I was the luckiest kid on the planet.
The night before we talked about me no longer managing the how to do things, but to now facilitate his judgement and decision making skills.
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I’m in that same parental boat. And the toughest part is to allow and watch my girls making decisions that I wold not necessarily make. Nothing dangerous or destructive, or illegal, but meal choices, homework choices, to go outside without 3 layers when it is 7 degrees outside. I ask, are you sure this is a good choice? And we move on. Very difficult.
But in the end, no one has starved. Homework is done and we have all avoided frostbite. Mommy learns lessons too.
Patty, parenting is the most exciting experiment ever done in the lab we know as planet Earth.
Don’t forget your safety goggles and rubber gloves.
Have a fire extinguisher handy and know the fire exits like the back of your hand.
Jeff and Patty,
I am there with you both. My 15-year-old son has one foot in childhood and the other in adulthood, and switching from management to facilitating has been an adventure. And the scary thing is that my 10-year-old son is watching and moving faster to the same point because he is learning from his brother’s life (he has always wanted to do what his older brother does – NOW).
Let’s all pray for each other!
Bob
Yes. Pray everyday. Some days more than once.
Bob, pray, hope, listen. Repeat. Forever.
Patty, for the over achievers out there, it’s not too far fetched to think that praying can be a manner in which we experience the entire day.