My "kids" are all adults now but I still think of them as young and needing guidance, which I suppose is a pretty common problem of parenthood. (I know my father was pretty darn good at expressing his opinions about everything from my parenting skills to my choice of automobiles, so I'm assuming its a universal reality. My mother was much better at keeping her opinions to herself and therefore I often sought out her advice on things that perplexed me in life. I try to follow her example but she was unique and I imagine I fall somewhere in between those two.)
In any case, I think that having children is the most amazing, humbling, wonderful,
frightening,and crazy thing we do in life. Nothing prepares us for the reality of it and on-the-job training is often a hit or miss proposal. It's that reality that makes me sit back now and look at my kids in amazement. How did these wonderful people ever manage to turn out so great when they were raised by two inexperienced, dumb kids who had no idea what they were doing? Sometimes I watch my girls interacting with their children and I think "Where did they learn that? I never thought to do that...". My sons, who are as different as night and day, amaze me with the way they love each other. How did that happen? When they're all together and I watch them laughing and interacting with each other I'm totally content in the knowledge that they'll go through this world with each other watching their backs, which is a gift I've always 
had with my own siblings.
I'm not sure how we manage - any of us - to raise healthy and happy children who become well adjusted adults. I still want to save them from all the hurts and pitfalls of life but I know I can't. They'll have their share of pain and confusion. But its gratifying to think that perhaps they'll be able to face the storms with strength and grace. I'm grateful that my children turned out OK despite our failures. And it gives me hope for the future to see that even our most bumbling efforts can be turned around. It's a great world.
In any case, I think that having children is the most amazing, humbling, wonderful,
frightening,and crazy thing we do in life. Nothing prepares us for the reality of it and on-the-job training is often a hit or miss proposal. It's that reality that makes me sit back now and look at my kids in amazement. How did these wonderful people ever manage to turn out so great when they were raised by two inexperienced, dumb kids who had no idea what they were doing? Sometimes I watch my girls interacting with their children and I think "Where did they learn that? I never thought to do that...". My sons, who are as different as night and day, amaze me with the way they love each other. How did that happen? When they're all together and I watch them laughing and interacting with each other I'm totally content in the knowledge that they'll go through this world with each other watching their backs, which is a gift I've always 
had with my own siblings.I'm not sure how we manage - any of us - to raise healthy and happy children who become well adjusted adults. I still want to save them from all the hurts and pitfalls of life but I know I can't. They'll have their share of pain and confusion. But its gratifying to think that perhaps they'll be able to face the storms with strength and grace. I'm grateful that my children turned out OK despite our failures. And it gives me hope for the future to see that even our most bumbling efforts can be turned around. It's a great world.
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