‘I JUST WANT TO SAY YOU HAVE AMAZING AND WELL BEHAVED KIDS.’
It’s been a while since I and my 3 ‘babies’ travelled together on the same flight m, and if my memory serves me right, the last time I took a trip along with them was 2 years ago. This isn’t particularly due to limited opportunities caused by the COVID 19 pandemic, but let’s just say my babies, particularly my teens, don’t like to ‘tag along’ any more 😞.
Last week, I jetted with my children to our base, and had the chance to reflect on my parenting journey, while I watched several parents with little children, either run after a toddler or feed a baby or lead another to the restroom. As I watched on, I couldn’t help to think of how challenging but worthwhile my journey has been.
At the end of the several hours of our flight, a woman, who was on the final leg of our journey and had been observing my children, beckoned to me and said, ‘I just want to say that you have amazing and well behaved kids.’ This is a comment I get not only when I am on air trips with my children, but each time i hear it, it gives me an indescribable feeling i.e. a ‘pat on the back’ that reminds me that we have done some things right but then another voice whispers in my ears, ‘the journey isn’t over…😆.’ Can a long-life contract like parenting ever be over?
As we walked to ‘baggage claim’ to pick our bags, I thought of how ‘we’ have been intentional about ‘parenting our ‘babies.’’ I like how Jon Helmkamp, a contributor at ‘ Huffpost’ explained ‘parenting’ in his ‘8 ways to be Intentional about parenting’ article. Parenting is building a relationship, with your child, that takes thought, self sacrifice, love, compassion and intentionality.’ We must continually strive to be intentional about parenting.
I will conclude and say:
It takes a village. I can’t take credit for this type of comment that I get often. From ‘ day 1,’ ‘our’ village has included our parents, family, teachers, support staff, and advisors that have been instrumental in helping us parent intentionally. All thanks to God, who says we are merely ‘caregivers.’
To every parent that has been intentional about raising a child with values that result in such becoming a responsible, respectful and thoughtful citizen in today’s world, Well done!! Keep going!!! You have an amazing and well behaved kid!!!
