By nature, most of what I post as a parent comes in on the positive side of the scale, but as any parent knows, there are easily as many frustrating, scary, and confusing moments as any of those celebratory times when your kid gets all-A's, wins a big game, or does something sweet and endearing.
For example, there are those moments when they get into fights, red-faced, and embarrass both themselves and you in the process.
There are the times their report card arrives and you almost have a heart attack, knowing how short-term under-performance in today's world often can preclude options for their future chance at success.
Then there are the awful times you see them withdraw into themselves, go silent, and refuse to connect with you for reasons you have absolutely no visibility into.
It's never easy being a parent, but it is immeasurably more difficult being a teenager.
Just back from 48 hours of around-the-clock work as this kind of parent, I can attest to the exhaustion that results.
Hell, nothing really bad happened in the great scheme of things. They all seem to be fine. But I'm a total wreck.
-30-
1 comment:
Indeed, there is nothing quite like being a parent- when they go through their tough times- we wish we could bear the pain for them- but we can't and we have to just 'be there for them'....it is tough!
Being a parent, myself, made me appreciate my own parents all the more- it made me understand them so much better. I think nothing in life prepares you adequately for being a parent- you simply learn as you go and in the end- it is the most fulfilling role ever!!! (it is also the toughest role ever) :)
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