Each day, each year, and each kid is different! Each is filled with unique, exhilarating moments, as well as overwhelming challenges for us mere mortals. We humans, know we’re not perfect. And since parents are humans too, no matter what those kids say, we’re obviously not perfect either. However, the beautiful things about being human and being a human parent is that we don’t have to be perfect because we’re still a work in progress. We still have hope. We still have to ability to offer others hope too. And that’s perfect enough in my book. Hopefully, it is in yours also.
I still remember the first time I heard that phrase ‘a work in progress.’ Many years ago, an older set of parents sat at my kitchen table, trying to show my wife and me, who were new parents at the time, how to do something. They bungled the demonstration like crazy. And when it finally became a bit too awkward, and even kind of painful, the older father looked up at us and said, “Hey, what can I say? I’m still a work in progress. I give others hope. If I can do this parenting thing, so can you.”
Five children and many years later, I can still vividly remember that lesson at my kitchen table. And you know what? He was right. My wife and I have bungled a few things along the way. No! Make that many things. Yup. We have blown many things along the path of parenting. But guess what? We’re still doing that parenting thing. We’re still getting it done. And we’re somehow making this parenting thing work. And if we can do it, so can you. I guess we, too are now hope givers for the next generation.
Now, as my Granddaddy always said, “Go learn, lead and lay the way to a better world for all of us.” Remember, parents, we’re still a work in progress. And that’s a really good thing. And once again, parents, thanks in advance for all that you do, and all that you will do…