Older and wiser

Most parents have likely been guilty of this at one time or another. Congratulating ourselves on doing a much better job as parents than our own parents did with us. Patting ourselves on the back as we assume that we did it purely on our own. But as I’ve grown old and have watched my own children raise my several grandchildren, it’s occurred to me that my parents didn’t do such a bad job after all. Without their teaching I wouldn’t have had some of the skills I did to raise my own kids. I learned far more positive things from them than I gave them credit for. Yes, they made mistakes and they weren’t perfect, just as I made mistakes with my own parenting. But obviously if they raised good people then they did something right. So now, instead of blaming my parents for everything that went wrong in my life, I’m thanking them for all of the good things they did and acknowledging that they tried their best when raising me and my siblings. I raised some good people too, in spite of the mistakes I made while I was young and not as wise. So well done to all of us who tried our best!

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I read the first issue of the Straight

Jun 20, 2022 at 12:35pm

so that dates me and I'm not saying I'm a wise old guy but I've learnt a couple of things. 1) We don't own our children. We are their temporary care givers then they reach adult age they must find their own way. Yes we will always love them and help when they ask, but we must MYOB and let them learn their own way. 2) Time flies and now my parents are long gone. Now I miss them and wish I wouldn't have taken them for granted and spent more time with them. 'You never miss your water till the well runs dry'

10 2Rating: +8

Anonymous

Jun 20, 2022 at 1:14pm

There was a book written years ago that said that the good enough parent was the best parent. The good enough parents do not strive to be perfect parents and do not expect perfection from their children.

I wish I had a good enough parent, my single mom was never around, sadly.

8 2Rating: +6

Twaddle ...

Jun 21, 2022 at 1:48am

I'd like you to meet tedious.
Tedious, this is Twaddle...

2 3Rating: -1

my parents often

Jun 22, 2022 at 10:47am

congratulate themselves for doing their best during their monologues but none of their kids know how to get anywhere in life.

3 1Rating: +2

stand tall

Jun 27, 2022 at 8:20am

There are no "self made" people. We stand on shoulder of so many, especially our parents. They are human, just like me.

Good of you to remind me.

1 1Rating: 0

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