The wisdom I’m gaining from parenting my college aged sons…..
IT’S HARD! (I feel this short but powerful sentence is bold and ALL CAPS worthy.) Can I get an amen????
They have minds of their own and are free to, encouraged to, and well, expected to use them…but when they don’t take my advice or direction…ouch! Its hard ya’ll! Remember those control issues I mentioned in a previous post. Yep, they still resurface every now and again. #BabySteps #WorkInProgress #LetGoOfTheOarAndLetThemRow!
Their lives are their stories. They need to write them. Full of all the chapters; hard, easy, happy, sad, good and bad. You never know which ones will teach the greatest lessons!
We can agree to disagree lovingly without judgement and with mutual respect! That is grace.
I don’t always have the answers. Sometimes they have the answers and I need to be open and available to listen.
Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing at all. Silence can be golden. However, if I must say something because sometimes I must, keep it short and to the point, and not get all girly!
I’m a girl. They are boys. I know genius, right? We have different communication styles. I need to learn theirs and adapt mine.
Don’t push the two text question quota! Be grateful for what you get and move on. Save the others for another day!
Just when I thought I couldn’t love them any more…I do!
I’m not alone. I have God and my tribe of trusted sisters to lean on. It’s more than okay to be vulnerable! It is necessary for growth.
Home will always be their safe place to land and they will come back when they need to.
They belong to God not me. HE has them. Release. Surrender. Trust. Believe. Faith over fear!
Letting go is a lot easier than trying to hang on. It brings more peace.
Sometimes space brings us closer together.
I do my best but I still make mistakes! They will make mistakes also, even when they do their best.
Their mistakes do not equal a tally mark in the failed parent column. We are all responsible for our own actions and choices. None of us are perfect beings. We all mess up. We all make mistakes. Those mistakes do not make us failures. It’s life. Live, learn, love, forgive, and keep walking.
My stuff is my stuff. Keep it to myself. Do not project it on to them.
If I’m going to be that crazy social media stalking mom I better be prepared to deal with what I find. Note to self: Just say NO! Walk away! Resist the urge! What you don’t know can’t hurt you.
Praise the positives! Celebrate the successes! Don’t harp on what isn’t. Focus on what IS!
They are amazing, independent, responsible, funny, fun, caring, strong men who I am blessed by!! They will still stumble and fall like they did when they were little. While I can’t stop them from falling, I can still be there with open arms to catch them when they do!
N & G: You are both my sunshine! Being your mom is my toughest assignment and GREATEST gift!!! I love you more than words can ever say and am beyond proud! Thank you both for your patience and understanding as I continue to learn to let go of the oar and row through these parenting transition years.
Shine bright,
Teresa
aka MOM 🙂