Nobody could ever say that being a parent was easy. Some realise it before they plan a baby while others stumble upon the fact when they have a screaming infant in their arms. I am no parent but having helped raise a relatively large number of cousins (or at least having been around), I have have had the opportunity to observe many different kinds of parenting.
What is easy to see is that kids are extremely perceptive. The little baby cousin whose parents want the prettiest daughter in all the land happens to love dressing up and looking pretty and those who do not understand the importance of education have children who couldn't be bothered to find out anything about anything besides things that do not affect them directly. All of this made me wonder about me and how my parents raised me.
Growing up, all I ever wanted was to make my parents proud, any way I could. I did whatever I did to be the best. I worked hard at everything, but putting my heart into it helped. I dreamt of being successful and coming home to proud smiles of my parents. All of this came from the constant encouragement that I got from my parents. It's not easy to understand just how big a hand your parents had in making you the person you are.
The hardest thing for parents to do is to balance the urge to protect the children with giving them the freedom to make their decisions and find their path in life. Babies need constant protection, which needs to be lessened slowly over time till you let the kids go when they become young adults. Most of your arguments with your parents would have been a result of this process. As children you resent your parents for all the rules and restrictions. But as an adult, I can't imagine how difficult it must've been for my parents, to let me go and suppress their protective instincts all these years.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, I can't believe how I lucked out having the parents I have. And maybe someday I'll find the courage to tell them that.
What is easy to see is that kids are extremely perceptive. The little baby cousin whose parents want the prettiest daughter in all the land happens to love dressing up and looking pretty and those who do not understand the importance of education have children who couldn't be bothered to find out anything about anything besides things that do not affect them directly. All of this made me wonder about me and how my parents raised me.
Growing up, all I ever wanted was to make my parents proud, any way I could. I did whatever I did to be the best. I worked hard at everything, but putting my heart into it helped. I dreamt of being successful and coming home to proud smiles of my parents. All of this came from the constant encouragement that I got from my parents. It's not easy to understand just how big a hand your parents had in making you the person you are.
The hardest thing for parents to do is to balance the urge to protect the children with giving them the freedom to make their decisions and find their path in life. Babies need constant protection, which needs to be lessened slowly over time till you let the kids go when they become young adults. Most of your arguments with your parents would have been a result of this process. As children you resent your parents for all the rules and restrictions. But as an adult, I can't imagine how difficult it must've been for my parents, to let me go and suppress their protective instincts all these years.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, I can't believe how I lucked out having the parents I have. And maybe someday I'll find the courage to tell them that.
