Staying Young

Kids amuse themselves by being themselves. Throw in a mirror and another kiddo and you've got a party. Props are optional.


We had a fun brunch with some young people today. Brian (see linked blog) , Stephanie and their 4 wonderful kids and Tim and Pam with their 3 great tykes made for a full house. We dragged the castle blocks and hockey action figures up into the living room and everything was well used.

We have many friends who have chosen not to have children. It's a very personal choice, and I respect that. Our world is heavy with humans, but the best choice I ever made was to have my children. When I look back over my half century plus, both my favorite and most stressful times involve family.

The days with young children are long, but the years are fast. It seems like only yesterday that our daughter was so mad at us that she locked herself in OUR room. Our son liked playing April Fool jokes on us, like taping down the spray faucet on the sink, only to be fooled himself later in the day. What would life on a fishing boat be like without a child falling into the bucket of fish slime or making play-doh out of Bisquick or a preteen turning off the radar to use it as a mirror? What about the interesting conversations explaining the world, only to find yourself later speculating about the very same things? Why ARE grapes round but bananas long? How DO birds keep warm outside? Where do we go when we sleep? Why do some babies have to die?

There were some tough times, too. Long nights waiting for a late teenager. Patiently waiting for a tirade or temper tantrum to end. Watching a sick child struggle to sleep with a high fever. Witnessing your child desperately trying to fit in. Trying not to take it personally when your teenager challenged your right to parent or even to try to bring up a topic or, I suppose, your right to exist.

When our youngest child left for college, our nest was very empty. My attempts at constant contact were rebuffed due to the wonderful job I did in teaching the kids independence. I had to redefine my relationship with them. Now, I can look back at the child rearing years and say that I did the best I could with what I knew and had. That's all anyone can do. Would I do some things differently? Maybe. But the results of parenting are long-term. They turned out wonderfully. They are my legacy. Our legacy.

In the meantime, we have wonderful inter-generational friends. We can enjoy their children and revalue our own. I hope I don't step on any of those little action figures tonight in the dark. That really hurts (as I recall)!

Some of my children's favorite books: Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, Encyclopedia Brown, Tikki Tikki Tembo, I Can't Said the Ant, The Tripod Trilogies, The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, Pippi Longstocking, Winnie the Pooh, Green Eggs and Ham.