My girls have now reached the age where they can all be in most activities or classes on their own. Even, my youngest daughter! Growing independence has relegated Mom to the sideline viewing area. This year I was able to register them in gym classes at the same time and in the same place. Unbelievable! Yes, I can actually sit down and enjoy watching my daughters in action. I am so proud of their growing independence, enchanted by their movements and heartened by their enthusiasm.
How naive I was back in 1995 thinking that parenting would be so much easier from now on. It was an unrealistic and overly optimistic dream of coordinated schedules and down time ahead. Children are individuals. Sameness and easy are never going to be effective concepts or words when parenting. It’s not going to be that simple and straightforward. The pace is going to increase. The diversity is going to stretch you in many directions as you strive to expand their potential and meet the growing needs of each child. You won’t be sitting for very long. Buckle up for the race or more accurately the marathon ahead that will require resiliency to endure and complete. But, it will all be worth it!
Remember to take a breath along the way to pause and enjoy watching your children in action. Their individual strengths and challenges will never be the same and will always need to be recognized, supported and celebrated by you. Observe, learn and appreciate how different they really are not the sameness of a mere moment in time. Learn that opportunities will pass by quickly. Circumstances will change and you, Mom, won’t stay the same either!
Karen Boschee
Mom, Grandmother & Retired Teacher
Hindsight is Always 20/20! Parenting tips. 