Parenthood 101

So, here we go ... my first attempt at actually putting my thoughts somewhere other than my head ...

Almost 5 years ago, our lives changed forever, our oldest, K, was born.  He has sent us on an adventure like none other, with twists and turns that we never would have seen in our wildest imagination.  K is his own little person ... I've never met anyone like him, and he will change the world.  A little over a year ago, K got a little sister, A.  She and K are polar opposites.  If you looked up "easy kid" in the dictionary, the definition would be right next to a picture of A.  Needless to say, we are in for quite a ride.

Parenthood is the greatest thing ever.  It's my most important job, one I take very seriously.  I will protect my family with all I have.  Yeah, sure, people tell you that you'll do it, but you never know for sure until you have to.  I've lost count of the many times I've nearly broken one of my bones or scraped some part of me in an unconscious effort to protect my kiddos, usually K.

My own parents were, and are, awesome.  They did everything they they could to make sure my brothers and I were well taken care of.  After Josh died, I saw the pain and anguish that no parent should ever have to go through.  Unfortunately, there was nothing anyone could have done to prevent it, and I pray that I'll never have to go through that with my own kiddos.  For the record, my brother was an awesome dad, and the love and devotion he showed his boys will be with them for the rest of their lives.

Over the last few months, I've had several opportunities to see parents in action (or lack thereof), and I see it differently now that I am one.  I teach 4th grade at a low-income school.  Many of my student's parents have no money, but I can see that they do everything they can to make sure their kiddos have everything they need, and have as many opportunities as possible.  Other parents drive fancy cars and dress to the nines, but their kids eat their lunch ravenously because their so hungry and wear the same stained clothes day after day.  I honestly don't see how the latter can live with themselves.

Then, last night, I saw something that validated a lot for me.  Sarah and I were at Target (not Wal-Mart, where things of this sort are supposed to usually happen) where we saw a lady spank her child in the middle of  the parking lot.  I seriously wanted to turn around and applaud her.  The backstory ... S and I saw the kid run out in the middle of the parking lot without looking for cars or paying attention to anything else.  It required an immediate, swift, and memorable response.  That's when parent's intuition struck and the mom did exactly what the situation required.  Hopefully, the kid will think twice before running out into the middle of the road or parking lot.  My issue:  I'm afraid that if someone else witnessed the event, the poor lady would have had the police called on her.  Don't get me wrong, I honestly can't remember the last time I had to spank K.  I save it for when the message he needs to receive requires it.  This woman did what she needed to do, as a parent.  The love for her child enabled her to do what was right and subconciously "ignore" what some in society think of parents who do what is needed to ensure the well-being of their child.

Almost five years ago, someone came into my life who will forever and always come first.  I do not understand a parent who chooses to not to put their children first.

S and I have had to make some very difficult decisions when it comes to the well-being of our children.  Many folks have not understood why we do what we do, but, hopefully, they are coming to realize that we do what we do for the love of our children.  In one case, a couple of years ago, we really, really, ticked off someone very close to us, but, funny thing, the person we ticked off came to realize that we were doing what we were doing because we thought it was what was best for our kiddos (well, kiddo, A wasn't around yet), Unfortunately, in this situation, our parental intuition proved right.

Everything S and I do is out of complete love for our kids.  When I see other parents put themselves first, and hope their kids turn out ok, I can't help but get angry.  When I see other parents try to manipulate their children's lives, to make their own lives easier, I can't help but get angry.  When I hear other parents lie to their kids, I can't help but be angry. 

Our kids will always come first.  That's the way it should be.

Ok, now that that's off my chest ... who knows what will come next ...