Big Stick Parenting

I just love it, EVERYBODY ELSE ;) is like my adult child is going off to Harvard, serving a mission, getting married in the Temple, building an orphanage in central America, starting the next great Google....

And I am over here in my little corner.....
"like...soooo....well...I don't understand what random Kramer offspring is thinking and well ....okay....at least I didn't beat chase, yeah chase (non specific) offspring with a big stick ?!?!"

Just in case you are not in the big stick phase of parenting "adult" children yet, here's a little heads up......

They make their OWN decisions!

and sometimes said choices leave their parents a little befuddled and bewildered(I like big words).....

{Unspecified decision/choice by unnamed offspring, is brought to our attention, by a complete stranger}

Awesome!

We acted like the reasonable, thoughtful, level headed, educated, sane, happy parents  that we always ALWAYS  are.....Of course you believe me, right? ;)
NOT!!!! We are still trying to get there.

See it's easy to sing are kids praises when their decisions are ones we would have them make, when those choices reflect values we have tried to instill in them....When there are achievements to be celebrated. We can brag and boast and post and trust me we all do...

But what are parents supposed too do when those choices don't reflect our hopes or dreams we had for our kids? What are we supposed to do when they are not going to Harvard or have decided they need a hiatus from church, or their choice cause worry for an unknown future ...

Our hearts have ached and ached over this.

We realised that we had two choices as parents...

Hate those choices and be miserable, be angry and close doors or....

Love our child as always and be kind.

Kindness and love feel so much better.

It's time to put the big stick away and move forward. Life has a way of working out. The most important thing I can do is to make sure my kids (named and unnamed ;)) always know they are loved and valued and ALWAYS have a treasured place in our family.