As I sit here rocking my 4 week old daughter to sleep. I have a lot of time to think.
Most people who know me unfortunately think me shallow at best, with maybe pompous coming in a close second. They’re probably right, unfortunately. I never really learned how to interact with other people well.
And yet, as i’m sitting here rocking this sweet girl to sleep and i’m thinking of my my mom, who gave up everything for my sister and I. Raising us was not easy, and doing so just above the poverty line made it harder.
I’m mindful of Sarah Mclachlan’s song, Answer-
If it takes my whole life
I won’t break, I won’t bend.
It’ll all be worth it
Worth it in the end
And I think two two things:
First, my mother had enough love to do that. That is a hell of a commitment. And I love her for it and hope to live up to her example.
And second, god willing, I hope like hell I’m a good enough person to be able to do that myself. Some days I’m not sure at all, and I think that’s even more frightening than the idea of failing my daughter.
Jason Lindquist
3/3/2006 | 8:51 pm1
Mark, there was a West Wing episode where Toby went through exactly that. You’ll be fine. Minor parental failures just build character in kids. Look at all of us.
Dave– He probably just wants the hotel for the pool.
dbt
1/17/2006 | 8:20 pm2
it gets even harder once they’re old enough to critique your performance as a parent. Gabriella now just says “dada byebye”whenever she seems me because I’ve been working too much the last two weeks, and Theo has been asking if we can go stay at a hotel. I think he figures I can’t work at all then.