Tag: parenting

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A Night of Firsts – A Parenting Moment

When you become a parent, you find yourself celebrating a lot of firsts.  First tooth, first word, first steps and the first day of school.  We try to prepare our children for the firsts in life.  Maybe we should focus on preparing ourselves as well.

Two major firsts took place in our family this weekend.  Princess had her first date which coincided with her first prom.  Good times!

Lost in the excitement of finding the perfect shoes and getting a mother-daughter mani and pedi was the fact that this was a first for me too.  My baby is careening toward adulthood at an alarming pace.

After all the pictures had been taken on Saturday, I stood there and watched my daughter.  The little chubby cheeked toddler has grown into a beautiful young lady.  I hugged her and told her to have fun.  I released Princess to  her date.  She smiled and waved.  Then she was gone to experience a new adventure.

I was left with conflicting emotions.  A part of me was happy that my daughter reached this milestone even as the mother in me mourned the little girl who only lives on now in memories and old photographs.

Yes, parenting is a moment of firsts.  I’ll continue to help prepare my kids.  And take lots of pictures.

Which parenting “firsts” have you recently gone through?

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Fake Mommy Wars: What We Moms REALLY Want

Here is a follow up to my post earlier today about the “mommy wars” from the website, My Brown Baby.  This is the quote that resonated with me:

 But are we women really this politically naïve that we’d toss our valuable vote into the ring of a man who neither understands nor gives two crap-filled diapers about what mothers want? What mothers need? Are we really so politically stupid that we’d let this man, his rich wife and their equally rich-and-out-of-touch cronies distract us from the real issues while we bicker and get all emo over who works harder—women who work solely in the home vs. women who hold down full-time jobs outside the home? When, exactly, do we mothers come together and demand politicians—whether Republican or Democrat, rich or poor, black or white—get down to the real issues that affect us mothers? When do we stop arguing over stupid s**** and start exercising our political might to affect real change?

via Millionaire Ann Romney and the Fake Mommy Wars: What We Moms REALLY Want.

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The Teenage Struggle – A Parenting Moment

“Teenagers are the most misunderstood people on earth.  Treated like children but expected to act like adults.”

I saw the above quote on Twitter and it made me think.  As a parent of two teenagers, I know that navigating the transition from child to adult can be tricky.  One minute they seem to have everything under control.  The next minute they see to revert back to being a toddler where the simplest task is a mystery for them to master.

I only focused on my job to help guide my girls through this time.  I didn’t concentrate on things from their perspective.  Princess told me that, “Being a teenage is a struggle.”  The seriousness on her face as she said this gave me pause.  She is right.

Teenagers today have a lot more challenges to overcome.  In my day, we had the usual things like school, dating, sex and drugs.  Today they have all of those things combined with the internet age.  Now a teenage mistake can follow you throughout life.  The internet is forever.

I reminisce on my own teenage years and I remember feeling confused and misunderstood all the time.  I especially felt that my parents were clueless.  I vowed that I would do things differently with my own kids.

They say that you become your parents but I disagree.  Okay, you may have the tendency to follow certain actions and beliefs of your parents.  But I think most people strive to be better than their parents.

I may not always get it right with Princess and Diva but everything is done out of love.  My goal is to raise two responsible adults that will treat people with respect.  I want them to be smart enough to surround themselves with positive people and contribute something good to society.  I want them to be comfortable in their own skin and accept people who are different from them.  I want them to choose a career that is satisfying and enables them to pay their own bills.  I want them to choose a life partner wisely.  I want them to be happy.

Bottom line:  Yes, being a teenager is a struggle.  Being a parent isn’t easy either.  But together, we can make it through.

What do you think?  Any teenage stories to share?  Advice?

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School Shooting – A Parenting Moment

 

Everyone has heard about the school shooting in Chardon, Ohio.  Seventeen year old T. J. Lane opened fire in the school cafeteria shooting five students.  Three of those teenagers have died.

I am not here to get into a debate about gun control or bullying.  My heart weeps for every family affected by this event.  Especially those parents that have to do the unthinkable and bury their child.

No, this post asks a question.  How can you protect your children in an increasing evil world?

As a parent, it is terrifying to admit one simple fact.  We don’t have any control over what happens.

A good parent teaches their child how to behave.  We illustrate values and establish rules.  We correct with love.  We demonstrate how to treat other people.  A good parent tries to raise a responsible and considerate person.

Then we release our child into the world (a friend’s house, the movies, or school) and we trust them to make good decisions.  We trust them not to text and drive.  We trust them not to drink or try drugs.  We trust that they won’t pick up a gun to solve a problem.  Perhaps the greatest faith of all, we trust that they won’t get shot sitting in the cafeteria.

Here’s the parenting moment:  This is what I told my girls, “If you know someone has a gun in school, tell.  If you see or hear someone with a gun, run.”

I’ll have to continue to trust they will come home from school each day.  And pray.  I’ll be praying for your children too.

Any parenting advice to share?  Feel free.