Thanks for sharing, Molly. I loved reading this. It’s both mythical and practical; personal and universal. I so enjoyed reading about specific situations with Eula and Bo and getting a glimpse at the sturdy yet flexible and compassionate ways you parent. Grateful for the time and energy you put into this column installment and the invaluable vulnerability of putting your own successes/missteps out there. You are a gift!
Excellent parenting advice, Molly. I think there's a book in here - really!
As a parent (and a public school teacher) my goal was to help kids become independent.
(And see where that got me: my only child is grown up, and living and working across the continent, in another country :)
From my 'experienced' vantage point (admitting, like you, that I didn't always do things well as a parent) I think it's a challenge for many parents to not play the role of 'parent' forever. It involves all kinds of self examination. Etc etc.(See - there really is a book in this :)
Thanks Terry! Yes, I feel deeply curious about how independence and interdependence play together, as in how can children be confident in themselves and their own choice and also dependent upon and contributors in a greater fabric that supports them.
Good questions, Molly. It's great you are thinking about these issues: how children have responsibilities to family, and their communities. Of course, as they gain knowledge and build their 'responsibility' and 'cooperation' muscles they will feel more confident, and be able to be face more challenges. It's lovely, really.
Late to this one, but I really loved it. I think we have to know and keep learning our kid, and also ourselves. I am too invested in being "easy" (not asking for help, not seeming like a diva), which I've learned sometimes gets in the way of me supporting my kids in the way I can and would like to. Another parent might be way too quick to ask for extra support. For me, it's this ongoing alchemy of self-knowledge and growth on both of our parts. Thank you for accompanying us rather than PARENTING ADVICING us.
Love this, Court. I hear you on the "easy".... and yes it's a forever learning. I always say to my kids, "You might have been this way, but you are ever changing. You aren't one way." It's so tempting to label and identify ways of being and tendencies and aptitudes. Some balance there, because they are BORN themselves so fully. I see that time and time again with all children.
Thanks for sharing, Molly. I loved reading this. It’s both mythical and practical; personal and universal. I so enjoyed reading about specific situations with Eula and Bo and getting a glimpse at the sturdy yet flexible and compassionate ways you parent. Grateful for the time and energy you put into this column installment and the invaluable vulnerability of putting your own successes/missteps out there. You are a gift!
Thanks Carina!
Excellent parenting advice, Molly. I think there's a book in here - really!
As a parent (and a public school teacher) my goal was to help kids become independent.
(And see where that got me: my only child is grown up, and living and working across the continent, in another country :)
From my 'experienced' vantage point (admitting, like you, that I didn't always do things well as a parent) I think it's a challenge for many parents to not play the role of 'parent' forever. It involves all kinds of self examination. Etc etc.(See - there really is a book in this :)
Thanks Terry! Yes, I feel deeply curious about how independence and interdependence play together, as in how can children be confident in themselves and their own choice and also dependent upon and contributors in a greater fabric that supports them.
Good questions, Molly. It's great you are thinking about these issues: how children have responsibilities to family, and their communities. Of course, as they gain knowledge and build their 'responsibility' and 'cooperation' muscles they will feel more confident, and be able to be face more challenges. It's lovely, really.
Late to this one, but I really loved it. I think we have to know and keep learning our kid, and also ourselves. I am too invested in being "easy" (not asking for help, not seeming like a diva), which I've learned sometimes gets in the way of me supporting my kids in the way I can and would like to. Another parent might be way too quick to ask for extra support. For me, it's this ongoing alchemy of self-knowledge and growth on both of our parts. Thank you for accompanying us rather than PARENTING ADVICING us.
Love this, Court. I hear you on the "easy".... and yes it's a forever learning. I always say to my kids, "You might have been this way, but you are ever changing. You aren't one way." It's so tempting to label and identify ways of being and tendencies and aptitudes. Some balance there, because they are BORN themselves so fully. I see that time and time again with all children.