Parenting 101

I had a fantastic weekend. My daughter graduated from middle school and turned 14. I couldn't be more proud of her and her accomplishments. She is poised, brilliant, audacious, inquisitive. . . and about a million other adjectives! I really do marvel at her and at times truly admire her. She is so capable and her mind is so expansive that she can literally do whatever she puts her mind to. I have never met anyone like her and it has been such an honor and a privilege to bear witness to every moment in her life.

Parenting a child is no easy task, but I don't think that it is meant to be. I believe that we choose our parents,( for better or for worse). There have been times when I have wondered why my daughter chose us to be her parents. What skills did we possess that made her say: "yep, those two?" Just the thought of this possibility makes me want to be a better person and parent. I think it's kind of funny when people talk about their "parenting style." It kind of connotes a cookie cuter approach to rearing children that centers around doing what is comfortable for the parent as opposed to what is necessary for the child. I personally don't believe that it is possible to begin to imagine or plan for every human possibility as a parent. I believe that children reveal themselves to you little by little and you adjust and tweak as you go along. I have two children, and we have the same rules for both children, but very different ways of parenting each child. As my parenting journey evolves I have begun to think of my self as more of a steward. I know that it isn't very romantic and may even sound a bit cold but I have come to realize that my children don't belong to me, they belong to the world. So I am responsible for ensuring that they are fully equipped to perform their duties on earth. Often times that means making uncomfortable choices, and taking even more uncomfortable actions, but isn't that why she chose us? There is absolutely nothing comfortable about being a parent, but I think that the discomfort helps me to make better decisions about how to guide my children to be contributing members of society who fulfill the destinies that they have come to claim.

This September my daughter begins high school where she has decided to turn her attention to science and women's health. She is particularly passionate about teaching young girls about their bodies, menstrual cycles, and the important of using and appreciating their internal guidance systems. I look forward to helping her along this path and any other path that she chooses to follow . And who knows, I may find more of myself along the way.