BACK TO HOME PAGE SITE NAVIGATION CONTACT POETRY FORUM STORY FORUM   Horoscope  Radio  Gallery  FAQ   Search   Memberlist   Usergroups   Register   Profile   PM's   
Log in 
 
General Forum Index -> Parenting

For parents and children alike

Ladies Lifestyle and Living Store
  Author    Thread Post new topic Reply to topic
lemons



Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Posts: 964
Location: here ... with her <3
For parents and children alike

My mom sent me the following in an email the other day .... I don't think I'd ever seen it before. Thought I'd share it with all of you. Smile


Dear Parents,

Is there a magic cutoff period when
Offspring become accountable for their own
Actions? Is there a wonderful moment when
Parents can become detached spectators in
The lives of their children and shrug, 'It's
Their life,' and feel nothing?

When I was in my twenties, I stood in a hospital
Corridor waiting for doctors to put a few
Stitches in my daughter's head. I asked, 'When do
You stop worrying?' The nurse said,
'When they get out of the accident stage.' My
Dad just smiled faintly and said nothing.

When I was in my thirties, I sat on a little
Chair in a classroom and heard how one of my
Children talked incessantly, disrupted the class,
And was headed for a career making
License plates. As if to read my mind, a teacher
Said, 'Don't worry, they all go through
This stage and then you can sit back, relax and
Enjoy them.' My dad just smiled
Faintly and said nothing.

When I was in my forties, I spent a lifetime
Waiting for the phone to ring, the cars to come
Home, the front door to open. A friend said,
'They're trying to find themselves. Don't worry,
In a few years, you can stop worrying. They'll be
Adults.' My dad just smiled faintly
And said nothing.

By the time I was 50, I was sick & tired of being
Vulnerable. I was still worrying over my
Children, but there was a new wrinkle. There
Was nothing I could do about it. My
Dad just smiled faintly and said nothing. I
Continued to anguish over their failures, be
Tormented by their frustrations and absorbed in
Their disappointments.

My friends said that when my kids got married I
Could stop worrying and lead my own
Life. I wanted to believe that, but I was
Haunted by my dad's warm smile and his
Occasional, 'You look pale. Are you all right?
Call me the minute you get home. Are
You depressed about something?'

Can it be that parents are sentenced to a
Lifetime of worry? Is concern for one another
Handed down like a torch to blaze the trail of
Human frailties and the fears of the
Unknown? Is concern a curse or is it a virtue
That elevates us to the highest form of life?

One of my children became quite irritable
Recently, saying to me, 'Where were you? I've been
Calling for 3 days, and no one answered. I was worried.'
I smiled a warm smile.
The torch has been passed.
_________________
"No smile is more beautiful than one that has struggled through the tears" ~Unknown

Post Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:27 pm 
 View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail  Reply with quote  
MysteryGirl
Moderators


Joined: 02 Jun 2007
Posts: 3419
Location: I come from a land downunder


Thanks for that Lemons Very Happy

As the mother of 3 in their 20's I understand it perfectly! And as the daughter of a woman in her 80's who stil worries about me, I understand even more.
















Noni
_________________
Be yourself.............everybody else is taken!

Post Mon Jan 07, 2008 10:47 pm 
 View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger  Reply with quote  
ladybug



Joined: 31 Jan 2006
Posts: 138
Location: southern virginia


That made me cry...I am a mother and a daughter and it is all too true.
_________________
*ladybug

"There would be no rainbow for the soul, had there been no tears for the eyes."
~unknown

Post Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:43 pm 
 View user's profile Send private message  Reply with quote  
SASSY SOUL



Joined: 05 Jan 2008
Posts: 52


Lemons, that is really food for thought. After berating my son the other day he asked me why do you worry about me all the time, I said because it's my job and I love you, he said you always say that and I thought you had a job as a boss of all those people.

All I could say, with a lump in my throat was, I have many jobs and this one is the most important and I will never stop worrying

silence ensued and he considered my words

Post Tue Jan 08, 2008 12:25 am 
 View user's profile Send private message  Reply with quote  
lemons



Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Posts: 964
Location: here ... with her <3


Noni, Lady, Sassy,

thank you ladies ..... with everything my mom's going thru right now, I feel like that torch is getting closer to me ... if only she wouldn't be so stubborn about passing it on! lol

thanks again ... I am glad you each enjoyed it in your own special ways

Hugs,
Lem
_________________
"No smile is more beautiful than one that has struggled through the tears" ~Unknown

Post Wed Jan 09, 2008 2:07 am 
 View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail  Reply with quote  
  Display posts from previous:      
Post new topic Reply to topic

Jump to:  


Last Thread | Next Thread  >

Forum Rules:
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

 


Search For Posters!


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group

In Association with Amazon.com
     
Terms & Conditions Privacy Statement Acknowledgements