I Often Wonder About Parents Thinking

I was sitting in a waiting room to see my eye doctor when a mother walked in with a baby on her hip. I'm not good at estimating ages but I'll say the woman was in her 20's and the child was an 1 year old.

The temperature was sunny at 49 degrees with a light nippy breeze. The mother was dressed warmly in jeans, a shirt and jacket. The baby was dressed in blue jeans and a short sleeved shirt without socks or shoes.

I had to do a double take. I could not believe what I was seeing!

An older lady who was also waiting grimaced and whispered to her daughter looking at the baby. They were shaking their head in disbelief.

The mother evidently went to pick up something because she left after talking to the receptionist.

I could tell the child was chilled with his little feet and cheeks red. Poor baby.

Until Next time!



169 words

What Kind of Parent is That?

A child is a precious gift from God. He expects us to care for them and love them, unconditionally.

I understand that some parents don't know how to be a parent. Many of us didn't. We had to learn as we went. We have to have the love, compassion and common sense to guide us to be the best parents we can be.

Parents need to be there for their child financially, emotionally and spiritually until they are a certain age.

If we want them to succeed we need to give them the tools to do so or at least help them along.

Children owe their parents nothing. They didn't decide to come into this world. We brought them into this world.

I know it comes to a point that our children become adults and we have to let them use the tools we have given them.

But sometimes they need that extra help.

After I graduated from high school, my parents knew I had to get transportation. They got me a used car. All I needed to do is go to school and make good grades.

When I decided to buy my own car a few years later after I earned my nursing license and worked for a while I needed help to get the loan for the car. My dad cosigned for me and all that was expected of me was to pay the notes.

I know this child who had moved out of their parent's house and needed a loan to get a car. They needed a cosigner. When they asked their father, he said he would cosign if the child moved back in the house. The child refused to do so and the father refused to co-sign. The child struggled but made other arrangements. The mother was not financially capable.

I know of a different child who was going to school for what they wanted. Their father wanted the child to major in something else. When the child didn't budge, he made comments nearly every time he saw them about why the child should have majored in something else.

What kind of parent is that?

Why do some parents think it is all about them? Or they think their children owe them, when actually the parent owes them.

It just boggles my mind.

Share your thoughts.

Just Maybe..

Every decent loving parent wants the best for their child.I am no different.

From the day BabyGirl was born my life revolved around her. I do not have any regrets living life around her at all. I would do it all over again.

I have made my mistakes as all parents do. I look back and wonder.  If I had done something different maybe everything would be different, for the better.

I try not to live with the could've, should've and would've. BUT in the past few years, circumstances occurred that has made me wonder where did I fail as a parent.

I know I did the best I could with what I had. I know I gave her all the love I had in me.

However, I continue to punish myself for what I have failed to do as a parent.

At any moment that feeling of the black hole opens and lingers. My heart aches showing I have not forgiven myself for all those mistakes.

I've been told I am too hard on myself.  Maybe I am. I do not know how to change it.

I think sometimes when the moments are good, I fool myself that I have forgiven myself.

I try to pinpoint exactly why I do not forgive myself.  I try to pinpoint what I need to forgive myself for. I can't come up with only one mistake. I come up with a flood of them, some I even realize is trivial.

The past month has been chaotic. I am so glad it is not replaying in my lifetime. Things are going back to normal, whatever that is.

When I walked away from my marriage with BabyGirl's father and started dating, I hoped I would find a man who would love me and her unconditionally. I wanted more of a male role model for her.

I realized it was a long shot if not impossible.

However, I can confidently say I did ONE thing right. I have given her a male model to look up to and to depend on.  I have fulfilled one of my hopes.

It is a slow process but I can see the gaps closing between them.  It's a new process for them individually so it will take time but that's okay.

Maybe, just maybe, I did at least one thing right.