I have a good friend who is my age but her daughter is only seven. My kids are 20 and 17 so you would think our parenting experiences would be very different. And they are, but I’ve realized that with parenting it’s really just a series of the same emotions attached to different situations.
For example the emotions you have as you drop your child off at kindergarten are the same ones you have dropping him off at college for the first time. Is he ready for this? Is he mature enough? Can he navigate all of this without me there to guide him? Will he meet decent kids to be friends with? Will he be happy and excited to learn? Of course there are a few different worries too…Will he choke on the grapes I packed him for snack vs. Will he choke on his own vomit?
But you get the idea…
Your kid learning to ride a two-wheel bike for the first time is as exciting as when they get their license. In both situations they have complete sense of pride and accomplishment, just like you do.
When they are being a whiny, manipulative pain in the ass, brat it doesn’t matter if they’re if they’re six or sixteen. Your reaction is the same. I’m smarter than you. I’m not putting up with this shit and I’m really not that crazy about you right now.
And no matter what age, if you mess with my kid or in some way cause him/her pain…I will kill you. They are the only two people on the planet that I would kill for or die for. There is nothing more precious to me.
My mother always says, “Don’t worry, you only have to worry about them till you’re dead.” I use to think she was being a little dramatic.
But I’m almost 21 years into this parenting thing and I see no end in sight.
Thinking Out Loud 