Parenting

 
"Children don't come with instruction manuals."  How many times have you heard that ?

My niece has struggled with her new baby and the snow, unable to get out by car or even push a pram they have been going stir crazy.  My children have a link worker alongside them to help them cope with the changes in their unusual family arrangement.  My very good friend is wondering how to cope with her daughter fast becoming a woman in her own right and what her role is now meant to be.

If only the answers were easy to come by!  We could borrow every parenting book in the library, consult every parent before us, medical professionals, religious leaders, search the web, but all we will ever find are suggestions.

Suggestions that may work for one family but not necessarily for the next.  We are all so different, as are our children.  All we can do is our best and what we as loving parents see as the right thing at the time.  We could spend sleepless nights worrying about what scars or damage we are creating on the next generation with each decision we make, but, while doing that, we could be playing, laughing or even shopping with them

I would say then - stop worrying, do what your heart tells you and enjoy it - our children are children for such a short time.  And yes, they are our children even when they are adults with children of their own !!