Thankful Thursdays – Parents That Want to be Parents

I am so thankful for all the parents out there that actually want to be parents and that act like parents. I am thankful that my parents are such great role models and that my husband and I agree on what it means to be good parents.

The other day we were at a funeral and talking to the mother of a 12 month old. Little C had shoes on and the mother commented to her son “that baby wears shoes, why won’t you”. Then she went on to tell us that her son is a “hillbilly baby” because he refuses to wear shoes and socks. She said that “it’s not worth the fight” to get him to wear shoes, nor does she have the time to fight about it. Then she told us that “it’s not worth the fight to get him dressed” most mornings and as long as he has a diaper on that is good enough for her. I was quite disappointed to hear this. Not worth the fight??? he is only 12 months old! How can it be a fight?

Sure, I can understand a kid his age can take his own shoes off, this is why we don’t even put Little C in his carseat with shoes on – because they are then a toy that he tries to take off or eat or whatever, but before we get out of the car we put them on and he is just fine with them. If for some reason he were to be completely distracted in trying to get them off, then we would just have to tell him no and redistrict him with something else.

You don’t make your kid wear clothes because it’s not worth the fight??? Believe me, C can be squirmy. He hates being still for even one moment, but yet we still manage to dress him everyday! And C is strong… and he has been walking since he was 9 ½ months old and running for almost as long – he can move! This little boy can’t even walk yet and although it may not be the easiest of tasks are you telling me you just give up (and give in)??? Now maybe I could understand if you used cloth diapers… cause they are so darn cute with their fluffy bums… but you use disposables, so no excuse there. If your child fusses a bit or screams or cries and you give in every time you will be teaching them that they can always get what they want… you will be teaching them to be a spoiled brat! I wanted to tell them all of this, but I bit my tongue – which is not an easy task for me.

What else do they give in on because they don’t feel like being parents? When we found out we were pregnant, we were asked not to talk about it in front of this woman – because she wanted to get pregnant and hadn’t been able to yet (in the whole 3 months that she had been married for) – so she didn’t want anyone else to get pregnant either. 3 months later she got pregnant and every time we saw her it was all complaints. She was so tired, so sore, so sick, she couldn’t wait to get this baby out of her… we heard these complaints from day 1… so many complaints from someone that wanted so badly to be pregnant! Then the little guy was born and now she is constantly complaining about being tired and not having time and not getting sleep and him not listening and on and on and on. Why, oh why did you decide to have a baby if you didn’t want to be a parent?!?!

She wouldn’t breastfeed him, which is her choice (even though I think every mother should try… it is so good for everyone!), but the reason why just boggled my mind… she didn’t want her sleep to be interrupted!!!! Are you serious?!?! So, she slept through the night and stayed home with the baby during the day and her husband was up with the baby all night and then working all day. He couldn’t nap when the baby napped, she could, but she wouldn’t help out at night. Again I think… Why, oh why did you decide to have a baby if you didn’t want to be a parent?!?!

Okay, I know that sounded more like a complain-fest… but it truly makes me so thankful for my parents and the parents that my husband and I try to be… and to all those other parents out there that want to be parents and want to be good parents. Thank you for helping to raise our children to be good people!

Thankful Thursdays

Who I am thankful for… my parents. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my amazing, funny, kind, helpful, and wonderful parents. They have always believed in me and set the best example for a strong, happy marriage and good, strong family values.

Currently my husband and I are considering relocating out of Northeastern Ohio to the beautiful Piedmont region of North Carolina. For all my life, my whole family on both my parents’ sides has always been within about 30 minutes of each other. I LOVE that. I love that in less than a half hour I can be at the door step of anyone in my family. Well, that changed about a year and a half ago when my sister, her husband and their adorable, smart, funny (now) 4-year old daughter moved out of state. They come into town once every month or two and in between visits we webcam and talk and text on the phone. It was hard, but we adjusted.

K has always wanted to move south. Ideally, he always wanted Florida, but I like seasons… I don’t want heat all the time. So, when K lost his job a few months back, we decided it would be the perfect opportunity to include other parts of the country in his job search. With all this talk of possibly moving, of course our big concern was leaving family… and how they would feel about it.

Well, my parents have been so great and so supportive. I was worried about how they would react. I didn’t want them thinking that we were abandoning them, or that we didn’t care about them. My fears were quickly put to rest though. As soon as they found out that K got some interviews in NC, they were overjoyed and so excited for us. They truly know what it means to put your children first, to be supportive and to try to understand things from someone else’s point of view. They are so great!

I know that I will miss them terribly if we leave. I will miss that C won’t have his grandparents across town while he’s growing up, I will miss so much. But truth be told; I know we will all be okay. I know K, C and I will be very happy wherever we end up. I know that we will still be so close to my parents. I know that although the miles may separate us physically, nothing could ever really separate us. And who knows, maybe one day they’ll decide to retire to NC!

I love you, Mom and Dad – you really are the BEST! And THANK YOU for everything!

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