November 29th, 2014

I am just now coming to the realization that my thoughts on parenting have been wrong. I thought that you raised and protected your children. Now, I know that that's only good to a point. I wanted to shelter my children from all of the missteps that I've made in my life. I thought that by doing so, I would help them to have an easier time of it in their lives. I'm learning that easier isn't always the best way to go. They need to be bruised a bit. Life is hard, and we won't be around forever to lend a hand. I love all of them, but they have to learn to stand on their own two feet. Hopefully, they have the wherewithal to weather whatever comes. We'll be here if they want us. But, it's time for us to step back and let them fly. Admittedly, the watching is the hardest part.