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Not "Just Another Trip"
The Truth About Parenting
By Sandra Tarling
Perhaps I can learn from those earliest days to savor the best moments as they are happening -- rejoice in my daughter's successes on the soccer field and on stage, and exult in my son's accomplishments in math, history and on the basketball court. Then, when I am being ignored as just "the driver," or taken for granted as the one who cooks, does the laundry and will run to school with the forgotten art project due that day, I can remind myself that I am doing these tasks to help my children to do what they aspire to accomplish.
The smile and glow of satisfaction on their faces as my daughter tells me she got an "outstanding" on her world cultures project and my son announces he made 17 points in his basketball game are the moments I need to enjoy and commit to my memory. Too often I hear parents say, "When I get my life back . . .," as if they have no life of their own as they are raising their children. My wise younger sister, whose children are young adults now, says that as parents you do have a life: Your life right now is taking care of your children and everything that goes along with that -- that's what you're supposed to be doing right now. Soon enough, life will be different. The journey of child rearing will be over and you'll embark upon yet "another trip," as child-free adults whose children, in all their various stages, will always be a part of you.