“Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” -Elizabeth Stone
Summer is a mixed bag of emotions for blended families. As I boarded a flight a few weeks ago, I watched a mother say goodbye to her children as they flew to spend time with their dad. The mother seemed fine until she hugged them at the last moment. All had tears in their eyes.
She repeated several times that they would have lots of fun and that she would see them soon. She went to sit and wait until the plane left the gate. I felt her pain–I’ve been there!
As I took my seat I sighed. A woman sitting next to me asked what the sigh was about. “Having children and goodbyes,” I said. She said, “It doesn’t get any easier as they grow older. I just said goodbye to my 23-year-old daughter.” “Oh, maybe that’s why my dad always dropped me off at the front door of my dorm and never could come to the gate after I’d flown to see them.”
Rats! I really did think it would become easier the older my children were!
This conversation reminded me of several quotes which I have treasured through the years:
“You don’t really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around – and why his parents will always wave back.” -William D. Tammeus
“Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories.” -John Wilmot
“It’s not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can’t tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself.” -Joyce Maynard
“The quickest way for a parent to get a child’s attention is to sit down and look comfortable.” -Lane Olinghouse
“Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” -Robert Fulghum
I admire the mom who bravely smiled and put her children on a plane that day. I admire all the parents who continue to do what is best for their children. Maybe these quotes will inspire you or at least make you laugh!
Speaking of doing what is best…be sure and check my blog on Wednesday and Friday for more ideas to use at home with your own children. If you’d like to know more about teaching a concept, let me know by posting a question or comment on this blog or sending me an email glenna@taborrotation.com.
To those of you attending CAMT this year…TABOR ROTATION is a featured session in San Antonio on July 15th, 8-9:30am and 3-4:30pm. Can’t wait to see you there!