Parenting is not for whimps

I remember those old commercials for the Air Force or the Army or the Peace Corp where the tag line was "The Toughest Job You'll Ever Love". While I have never been in the Army or Air Force or Peace Corp, the only job I can think of like that is the job of PARENT.

I know that you don't get a lot of immediate gratification for your efforts as a mom or dad. In fact, it usually takes years to see any results from your work. But every once in a while you get a little glimpse of what your payout might be like. More often, you are knee deep in the trenches of life and covered in spit/poo/dirt/snot, but you keep on keeping on.

Once in a while your kids get themselves into a problem and have to learn from it and you have nothing to do but watch them learn it. They might not be ready to listen to your advice, or they might have listened but still have to learn it for themselves, the hard way. As a parent who tries to do your part, that is the worst. It is heartbreaking to see your kids mess up when you know they are so much better than the choice they made.

I think the only way to get through those rough bits is to think about what the difficult experiences will help them become down the road. It is still not easy, but you can pacify yourself by thinking they will be stronger for the experience and you just have to love them through it.

At least, this is what I tell myself when my kids make choices I don't necessarily agree with. I know this is part of them growing up, but I wish there was some magic trick to whisk them through the tough parts and still be able to learn the lessons that come from that. So far, I haven't found that magic. If I did, I would gladly share it all with you.

I know that you are trying your best with your kids too. I have seen you struggle with your own children and their choices sometimes. I have seen the tears in your eyes as you explain how they have grown from the choices they made and consequences that followed. Thanks for the love you continually show the children in your lives. Thanks for the example you set in following through with consequences that are hard to dole out. And thanks for the support you give me as I try to be a good parent too. It is a tough job, but I do love it.