A is for…. Parenting! connection general modeling good behavior raising children relationships

Tonight I came home from the gym at 8pm to find my son and five of his friends watching TV and doing homework.  Here is the positive:  I like these kids and I am happy that they are comfortable in my home.  Now that they are no longer using Axe Body Spray, they also smell pretty good.  The negative:  Mommy hit happy hour before Zumba class so she is a little cranky and WOULD LIKE SOME QUIET TIME PLEASE!

I can’t help but reflect on how parenting is so much different than I thought it would be.  Let me share my thoughts with you.

A is for APPRECIATION.  I want to thank my parents and family for shaping me into the person I am today; especially when it comes to parenting.   Parenting is the hardest thing I have ever done.   I am not one of those people that can say I love every minute of it because there are times when it really sucks.  (Do you know how hard it is to admit this publicly?)  I am ever so grateful that I am strong enough to stick with my convictions and do what it takes to shape my boys into good men.

A is for AWESOME.  The two things I remember my parents saying are:

  1. “If you don’t know, look it up”.  We had a set of encyclopedias, a dictionary and the public library. No Google!
  2. “You’ll figure it out”.  I hated this one because I felt it was so much more efficient if someone told me the answer!

I thought my parents were lazy when they put so much responsibility back on me.  Today I think they are awesome.  I could only appreciate their savvy when I became a parent myself.  Even if you do not have children, please know this.  Parents do the best job possible with what they have to work with.

A is for AGELESS.   Parenting continues throughout the lifetime of your child.   I joke about my 22 year old son moving back home with me but I am lucky to have his company.   I was ready to launch my adult life at 18 and never moved back home.  This isn’t the right recipe for him.  We are crammed into a one bedroom place and most days, we love each other’s company.  It is also funny when I hear my words coming out of his mouth.  “Mom, it’s late.  I was worried.”  I say, “Oh sorry, time got away from me.  He says, “You know you could have called me!”   Role reversal can be pretty darn weird!

A is for ARTICULATE.  You are not guaranteed another day or another chance to tell someone how you feel or to right a wrong.  Possessing the ability to understand and admit you made a mistake and then sincerely apologize is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and your relationships.

Living is a technology driven digital age, people are oversaturated with information so you may need to repeat your message in order for it to stick.  There is nothing wrong with...

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