Thank you Mom & Dad. Reviewing 2013...

One of my best friends in this entire world is hosting a blog link-up about thankfulness.  She invited me to participate and asked the question with regards to 2013 – “what is something for which I’m thankful?” Oh, there are so many things.  It’s hard to even narrow down by people, places, and things.  Can I not choose a vowel to help answer the question??  That being said, I had to choose a standout!  I have decided to write about my parents.  I consider these to be my parents by blood and by marriage.  They have been an amazing example of being parents to grown children.

As a mother myself now, frankly, it is very bothersome when I hear people say, “well you only have until they are 18” or “you’ll look back and miss these days because they (the kiddos) won’t need you anymore.”  I’ve always felt that something about that was sad, had too much finality, and was just, well, wrong.

I can say with much certainty that I feel as if I’ve needed my parents more than I’ve ever needed them this past year.  I was not a teenager.  I was not a tween.  Not even a toddler or infant.  I was a 34-year old with the great need for those who had traversed ahead of me.  A great need for those who knew me best – the me that I’d grown away from.  A great need for those who knew how to best care for my family when I could not.  I shared a few posts back about the nature of this past year’s struggles.

Our parents sat on our couch when I couldn’t change out of my pajamas.  Our parents washed my dishes when my hands were shaky and my mind would not get me up.  Our parents lovingly took our older McBabies overnight for some relief when my emotional health was getting the best of me.  Our parents knew when to just jump in.

Recently, our pastor did an amazing series on parenting.  He said that it only gets more and more important to parent as your children get older.  To have real and hard conversations.  To lead by example.  To talk about living well and giving well.  While I do not wish any struggles upon my own children, I know that we intend to be with them at every mountain and valley experience. I’m grateful that God designed us to be in long-term relationship with each other as our lives allow.  Yes, at some point, they must learn to tie their own shoes, write their own names, clean their own, ahem, rears, do their own homework, drive their own cars (choke), choose their own homes, spouses (yikes), and follow their own dreams.  I know, also, that if I do my job right, they will still need me to be their parent.  What a joy to have that gift.  I’m thankful to have my own and to be one as well.