Kids

I just wanted to say that children are the best thing there is.  They are a source of love, enjoyment, pain, heartache, and all the rainbow of emotions there are.

But most of all, I’m grateful for the inspiration they provide to me.

All that they are able to endure, and overcome.  All the accomplishments they have achieved, and will achieve.  All the potential they have to be amazing people in this world.

I know that every parent is proud of their children in different ways.  And some parents even go so far as to live vicariously through them.  To force them to live the lives that the parents couldn’t.

They often provide to their children all the things they feel they were deprived of as children.

But what you might not realize is without a handbook, the raising of children is really a ‘make it up as you go along’ type thing.  Not only that, but with two parents, who have their own baggage from their own childhoods, you might get mixed messages.

You kids are smart.  You know how to manipulate and get what you want.  I did with my parents, just as you do with yours.

I used to think that if I got through raising my kids without screwing them up too bad, it was a win.

I realize that was too low a bar for me.  The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

What really matters is the model you demonstrate, the actions you take, and what you teach them.  They observe what you do, and imitate that.  They watch you, listen to you, and emulate you especially when they’re young.

But even as they get older, they do that too.

When they are old enough to know the difference, who you are reflects on them.

As parents the other thing you have to realize is you’re not alone in raising your kids.  The old saying is it takes a village, and that’s not far from the truth.

You’ve got your church, which will hopefully provide a framework for community and values.  You’ve got your school, which will hopefully provide education, structure, and a desire to keep learning.  You’ve got your children’s peer group, which, after they turn 12 or so, become an even greater influence in their lives than you do.

But what really puts it in perspective for me is 18 summers.  If your kids go away to school for college or university, you have 18 summers with them.  Just 18 summers to enjoy, influence, teach and learn from them, before they start their life.

You also will spend more than 90% of the time you will ever have with them by the time they leave home for school.  Sure they’ll come back, but your relationship will be different.  Adult children are different.  They are great, amazing, and I’m blown away by what my young adults can, and will, do.

The world is a pretty awesome place, and kids are one of the best parts of it.

I’m blessed, and grateful, to have two of the best.

They are more than I could ever wish for.