What now or Now what !?!
At a young age, I learned patience and tolerance and have tried to lived my
life holding fast to these virtues. However, since the arrival of our
twins in 2007, I seem to be relearning their definitions on a daily
basis. Over these past several years, my wife and I have been very
blessed that I have been able to be a stay at home dad to our children.
Once my wife returned to work, anxiety (now my new BFF) set in,
leaving me to ponder, how am I going to do this? That mantra quickly flew out the
window the minute reality set in and realized that there wasn't anyone
else in the room. It is just me and the kids. You figure
it out and deal with it.
My wife and I read practically everything under the sun regarding being first time parents but nothing truly prepares you for raising two (or more) at the same time. The opinions in the books are merely educated guesses, at best, but it is all of those things that "they" do not tell you or write about that becomes life lessons learned. For instance, how do you evenly divide your rapidly depleting patience level, between two children who are constantly demanding 110% of it at every waking moment... and it is not even lunch time yet? We are currently dealing with the age of 7 now and I am still asking myself that very same question on a daily basis. Our son and daughter are two incredibly spirited, wonderfully imaginative children whose main ambition (at least for the time being) seems to be to make my life complete and utter chaos. I can remember people telling us, "Just wait until they start walking, it will get easier". At one year old, they began to walk (in different directions, of course, which made routine weekly shopping an "adventure" to say the least) At two years of age people said, "The "attitude of the two's" is nothing, just wait until they are three"...now they say, "That's nothing, Just wait until they are four"... what gives? I am beginning to get a sense that nobody really has a firm grasp on the whole parenting thing. Except to say that there is nothing there to firmly grasp because every day is in a constant state of evolution.
Basically, this is what I have figured out thus far. When it comes to the raising of our children, nobody knows better than me (and my wife of course), nobody can tell you what is right for your children but me (and my wife of course) and nobody could have possibly prepared me for this incredible journey that lies before me but me (and my...well.. no that was just me). All the books and experts out there, as informative as they can be, are no substitution for trusting your instinct when you are in the thick of it. Other than that, from sunrise to sunset, everyday is an adventure. There was a point and time in my life where I would see the sun come up for very different reasons, nowadays, I watch the sun come up and, seeing the world thru their beautiful eyes, it's always a great day. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go save a princess who has been taken aboard a stinky toed pirate ship. Twitter
My wife and I read practically everything under the sun regarding being first time parents but nothing truly prepares you for raising two (or more) at the same time. The opinions in the books are merely educated guesses, at best, but it is all of those things that "they" do not tell you or write about that becomes life lessons learned. For instance, how do you evenly divide your rapidly depleting patience level, between two children who are constantly demanding 110% of it at every waking moment... and it is not even lunch time yet? We are currently dealing with the age of 7 now and I am still asking myself that very same question on a daily basis. Our son and daughter are two incredibly spirited, wonderfully imaginative children whose main ambition (at least for the time being) seems to be to make my life complete and utter chaos. I can remember people telling us, "Just wait until they start walking, it will get easier". At one year old, they began to walk (in different directions, of course, which made routine weekly shopping an "adventure" to say the least) At two years of age people said, "The "attitude of the two's" is nothing, just wait until they are three"...now they say, "That's nothing, Just wait until they are four"... what gives? I am beginning to get a sense that nobody really has a firm grasp on the whole parenting thing. Except to say that there is nothing there to firmly grasp because every day is in a constant state of evolution.
Basically, this is what I have figured out thus far. When it comes to the raising of our children, nobody knows better than me (and my wife of course), nobody can tell you what is right for your children but me (and my wife of course) and nobody could have possibly prepared me for this incredible journey that lies before me but me (and my...well.. no that was just me). All the books and experts out there, as informative as they can be, are no substitution for trusting your instinct when you are in the thick of it. Other than that, from sunrise to sunset, everyday is an adventure. There was a point and time in my life where I would see the sun come up for very different reasons, nowadays, I watch the sun come up and, seeing the world thru their beautiful eyes, it's always a great day. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go save a princess who has been taken aboard a stinky toed pirate ship. Twitter
No comments:
Post a Comment