Do Our Kids Still Need Us?

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This post is sponsored by the Center for Parent and Teen Communication.  All opinions (and memories!) are my own.

THEN

You were a breech baby entering the world feet first, which makes sense. You’ve always liked to approach things carefully and cautiously. You used to stand so patiently at the top of the slide waiting for the other toddlers to give you a turn (they never did) because you didn’t want to jump right in. You’ve always marched to your own drum looking for a world full of order that would make sense to you.

NOW

You’re still craving a world that makes sense to you. Your quest for knowledge is insatiable even when that knowledge doesn’t align with your schoolwork. Astrophysics has become a hobby for you and you’ve found friends that share that same interest. You’re still cautious. It takes you time to adjust to new schools, new routines, new friends. But you talk to me, sometimes hesitantly, and let me give you guidance.

While the gap between us is growing as you’re getter older, I know you still need me to help you understand the world a little better. And this little video is a great reminder that parents are not alone in figuring it all out.

Every day I oscillate between sadness in watching my little boy slowly disappear and pride in who that little boy is becoming. The parenting struggle is real but thankfully there’s a new, valuable resource for parents like us. The Center for Parent and Teen Communication is designed for every parent navigating the teen years. After reading one of the articles on the site and watching the video by the director, Dr. Ginsburg, I’m reminded to have more of these Then and Now moments:

“[That bond begins at birth and] is strengthened by those wonderful memories that gave you a glimpse into who [your child] really was… Never forget that [he’s] still that person.”

Now grab some tissues and share some of your Then and Now moments. If you haven’t thought about them in a while, I guarantee it will put a smile on your face.