Misery might love company, but does company love Misery?

It is easy to forget that it isn't enough to just love our children.  We can love teddy bears and flowers and hot fudge sundaes, but children also need to be prepared to live in this world.  Actually that is very loving, but not always hugs and kisses and good times.

Part of being a charming child, or likeable human being means knowing how to act.  I just spent an afternoon with the most delightful little girl.  She was funny and articulate, out going and well behaved.

Children are not just an extension of their parents.  Well they really are, but that shouldn't be the parent's point of view.  As entertaining as they are and as much as they reflect who we are, they are not simply here for our benefit.  My child isn't here to make me look good, or make me happy.  She is here until she grows up and goes out into the world to live on her own.

My job is to give her the skills she needs to succeed there.  Those differ from place to place and child to child, but they are the difference between misery and content.

It is in a child's nature to fight for freedom of will and push the limits.  It is a parent's job to turn that nature into a way of living that finds harmony with her surroundings. 

I heard of a really smart mother whose child tended to lie.  She got him into acting, the perfect place to live out those fantasies, so he could focus on the real things in other places. 

Children don't know what is in their best interests.  They don't have the vast array of experiences adults have.

It isn't easy being a parent.