An Uncomfortable Truth

This will be a short post about parents.  We love them, they set the foundation for our life's story, and hopefully make us feel "whole" in a way no one else can.  They value the special qualities that make each of us unique.  They also can be annoying, and make us feel guilty for choosing our own paths or possibly not meeting their expectations.  And, hmm - do they appreciate what we do for them?

As we get older, we realize the huge effort it took for them to raise us and appreciate everything they've done for us over time.  Good parents offer guidance as we grow into adults and plan for the future, recognize problems in our lives and help us think about solutions.  They provide support when we need it, whether we ask or not.  Moving sucks a lot, as Aunt Julie said to me once - drag your family into your move planning and logistics if you can.  Use your family support system especially  if you have your own babies and young children to care for!  And remember, Steve is outstanding as a father of teenagers and can share his tips & tricks with you.

We have to accept that parents know us better than almost anyone else.  Grandad once told me they "know us too well"....  they know our strengths and weaknesses, as well as some of our regrets, mistakes and bad judgments especially in our youth.  The comforting thought that goes along with recognizing this uncomfortable truth, is the odds are they'll keep loving and supporting us regardless.  That's what good parents do.