They'll Survive

The beauty of being a mother and grandmother is knowing I am totally accepted and loved for exactly who I am by the most important people in my life. Not always understood, but loved! I am a pretty easy person to like. Most people seem to like me, but I think I am harder to love.

For one thing I have never been a let's bake cookies and watch chick flicks type of person.

I have taken my kids on vacations where I banned all external connections to the world, where we had to run down mountains in electrical storms, and the deer and the antelope crossing our path were the only living creatures we saw for hours on end. Once I took away their television and gave them a box that they used to put on their on entertainment for several months. Libraries were part of their lives from the time they could only chew on the books until they were old enough to drive themselves there.

On the other hand, they grew up dissecting frogs on the back porch, growing crystals in the basement and being part of a huge Community Players Theatre Family. Acting, singing and playing a musical instrument is as natural for them as it was terrifying for me when I was a child. I truly wanted them to have double my choices and chances and none of my fears. I wanted them to have it all.

Of course I discovered I couldn't give it all to them, but I learned so much trying. My children allowed me to face and conquer many of my fears, and there were lots of them.

Now they are all good, productive, compassionate people and I am so proud of them. If I had to give young parents advice? I'd say, love your children, really love them! Listen to them. Spend time with them. Play with them. Learn from them, but never be afraid to set limits and say no. If everything is done with love, they'll survive -- and maybe even thrive.