I borrowed the above quote from www.thehungersite.com because the quote really appealed to me as a parent. It is the motto I try to live by while I am raising my kids. Okay I don't always succeed. My kids could possibly be more responsible. They could tidy up behind themselves and help out more at home. I could possibly give them a bit more independence but for goodness sake - I'm running out of kids now and I'm not having anymore! My youngest is already 13 and I try to hang on a bit. But I am striving to give my kids the Roots of Responsibility with the Wings of Independence and I already know that my kids are going to be great adults!
It is funny that as the dependent brood shrinks and the chicks approach time to fly on their own, mamas tend to think of loss and a desire to hold close and papas tend to think about the joy of watching them soar on their own.
ReplyDeleteAwesome words!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right.
ReplyDeleteI do the same which is why I don't pick up after the kids. (and also because I, myself as an adult is very lazy and now I have children to do it for me).
Right?!?
But, yeah, I'm sure your children will grow up as excellent adults because you care.
It's hard to see them grow up, but so satisfying when you see that you've done a pretty good job and - more importantly - that they still like you!
ReplyDelete:)
Dan, I'm not so obsessed with keeping the kids close but it is a bit wrenching when they so obviously would rather spend quality time elsewhere! I'll be happy when they are soaring but there's just that little transition period...
ReplyDeleteTravel Girl - They are awesome aren't they and such empowering concepts.
Sheila - I do still pick up after my kids because I have an aversion to living like a pig. I get where you're coming from and I should probably enforce this more as well but its just so damn exhausting to nag and I tire of the sound of my own voice!
Fragrant Liar - Welcome! I can see my kids blossoming into adulthood and making more and more of their own decisions and its great. I am sure they still like me even though they treat me a bit like a necessary irritation sometimes.
My eldest will be flying the nest next year for university - how did eighteen years fly by so quick? It's Mothering Sunday this side of the pond on Sunday, and two of my brood will be away touring England on a hockey tour (pout). Love them as I do, I still have to confess I am kind of looking forward to the day when mine will come home only for visits..
ReplyDeleteThis is so important! I see many of my young affluent friends situations where both parents work in order to provide the best in material goods and leave all discipline and daily work with the kids to the nannies!
ReplyDeleteMany of their kids are brats!
Well done :)
From what I gather about you, your children will have all the skills they need as adults. I think you sound like my mom, actually - and I really hope I can be a mother like her one day.
ReplyDeleteOldest daughter is just starting to show signs of becoming human again. Youngest daughter has flashes now and then, but is still mostly "evil teen."
ReplyDeleteYou do what you can. Hopefully you laid the foundation and perhaps something sticks.
That quote put into words what I have not put into words yet, but what I felt in my heart I want to teach my child(ren). I don't know if this sentence I just wrote makes sense?
ReplyDeleteShrinky - sorry your eldest kids will be away on mothering Sunday. Its kind of a mixed blessing when your kids finally fly the coop. On the one hand you get to do what you want to do but on the other hand they sometimes fly so far that you hardly see them anymore.
ReplyDeleteFF and Kitty - As usual thanks for the compliments and recognition. Kids are far too spoilt these days and those parents actually make it more difficult for parents who do say no occasionally because of the comparisons children make of what they have. Kitty - I am sure all that parenting of your mom won't have been lost. You will use some of your mom's methods and a lot of new methods unique to how you and your man want to see your little one brought up. You will be absolutely fine.
Spear - You absolutely make sense. Before we have kids we haven't formulated a charter of how we want our kids to be but now that your daughter has been around for a little while and is developing her own little personality you are also developing the formula for what kind of father you want to be and what you want to teach your child. Its a process..
J.L. - I am sure your daughters are very grounded young ladies. Just keep communicating with your teen. Dont talk at her but really listen to what she has to say. You will actually be amazed at what she has inside her head. I'm sure you will find that a lot has 'stuck'.
ReplyDeletevery inspiring :)
ReplyDeleteGood thoughts. Now if I could just get my son to put on his own socks
ReplyDeleteMiss T - It really is an inspiring quote and worth printing out to put on my fridge door.
ReplyDeleteSuzie - Small steps small steps. My 13 yo old still has to have his breakfast made for him during the week because he is slow that if I didnt help him he would never even get out the door. Work in progress I assure you.