I thought today long and hard about the kind of parent I want to
be.
The kind of parent I strive to
be, but know that parenting is a process- one that grows and changes with time - much like our children.
I want to always be there for them.
I want to say, “Yes” as often as possible.
I want my word to mean something and if I make a promise,
may I always come through.
I want to hug them tightly each and every day allowing my
arms to fully wrap around them.
I want to smile with them and laugh with delight at their
jokes, their games and their silliness.
I want to be generous both with my time and my money, but
always with my love.
I don’t want to give a concern myself with what what others think. I want my children to know that there is something so much larger and greater out there.
I want to make my children feel as special as I think they
truly are.
I want to whisper in their ears so often that they know what
I am about to say before the words roll off my tongue, “I love you. I always wanted you and I loved you
before you were born. Thank you
for being my son/daughter. Thank you for choosing us.”
I want them to know how grateful I am to be their mother.
I want to abandon my shouts and speak in gentle tones.
I don’t want to compare them with each other or others for
that matter, as each of my children are individuals and I want to respect their
individuality.
I want to preserve and harvest their childhood- for this
time is so magical not only to them, but to me as well.
I want to show them that love wins – that love always wins.
I want to tell them the
story of how I met their father and my life partner. How we fell in love and fell apart and how after spending
time away from one another we realized that we were the only people we never
wanted to live without. That we
chose love and each other and that choice has made all the difference.
I want to teach them to speak – up for themselves or each
other knowing that it is OK to forgo manners and feelings when and if others
are unkind or take advantage of them.
I want to greet them with open arms at an airport should
they ever travel far from home and return to visit.
I want to help them build their lives, but know that their
lives are distinctly their own.
Free of my wishes and demands, their lives are meant to be lived by
them.
I want them to know that mistakes in life will happen and it
is not the mistake that matters, but what they choose to do with the knowledge
they gain from the mishap.
I want them to learn to fight. Fight for what they believe in, fight for what is right,
fight for love and fight for family.
There are very few things in this world worth fighting for…those are a
few.
I want to remember their births – their first minutes in my
arms and in this world. How truly
blessed I felt to hold them, love them and welcome them so deeply into my
heart. I want them to know that
December 12, 2008 and August 3, 2011 were two of the best days of my entire
life. That the gift of their
presence was and is one of the greatest gifts that has ever and will ever be
bestowed upon me.
I want to teach them to run through the rain, climb tall
mountains, float in wild rivers, build sandcastles and ride the waves.
I want them to witness the miracle of a sunrise and a sunset
and realize that the greatest things in life are almost always free.
I want them to value money, but never to place much
emphasize on it.
I want to help them in ways that only family can help. To witness the birth of their first
child, to cook meals for them when they are weary from the newness of
parenthood, to offer support and love.
To watch my grandchildren when I can tell they need time alone with
their partner. To love them and
their children unconditionally.
I want them to observe their parents and say to themselves,
“I want a love like that.”
I want to give my children one of the greatest gifts my
parents ever gave me and that was the gift of a strong, healthy, loving
marriage. A marriage that endured
hard times, pain, anguish, love, loss, compassion, joy and tolerance, yet with
stood the test of time.
I want my children to know that their love is one that will
forever be etched on my heart.
I want their lives to be riddled with incredible experiences and rich with moments that take their breath away.
I want to teach them to respect each other and show great respect for this earth.
I want them to value sunrises and sunsets.
I want them to lean on one another and rely on each other throughout their lives.
I want them to know that our love for them will be the one constant in their lives.
No matter their place in this world our love will always travel with them.
