I’ve been a parent for 7 1/2 years now. CNN has an article up with some of the things about parenting that no one talks about. I altered the title a bit, since it applies to dads just as much as moms.
The ones that have been hardest to learn for me are “You feel helpless sometimes” and “You have to force yourself to back off”.
Just about the hardest thing for me about being a parent is that sometimes there just isn’t anything you can do. Sometimes your kid is sick and feels horrible and you can’t fix it. Or a friend has said something hurtful to them and you can’t make the hurt go away. Sometimes animals and people die and you can’t bring them back. There isn’t much about being a parent that I don’t, at least in some small amount, enjoy. This part though, I would gladly be done with. One of the worst parts about it is that it’s going to last forever. Even when Xander is 34 years old, I’m going to hate that there are things that go wrong for him that I can’t do anything about. Just like today, sometimes all I can do is comfort and lend support as best I can.
Too true and great article. Oh and I totally agree with the subject change. Applies to both moms and dads alike. =)