Stumbling Over the Truth

Usually, I am not emotional about things, but this morning I am fighting back tears. Today my oldest son is graduating from high school. Time has been trying to tell me that I am starting to get old --grey hairs, need for more sleep, my son is taller than me, etc. When my wife and I first started having children, I was very excited about the time I would get to spend with my kids as the matured. I rellished teaching them sports, helping them with homework, and even discussing awkward dating situations. Today, I know that this is not completely over, but a huge part of my son's time learning with me to teach and coach him is over. For this, I shed a tear. I also realize how much I am in love with all my kids, and especially my son as I contemplate his very last grade school day. For those young parents who are just starting the parenting days, treasure each day and tell your children you love them daily. As for me, I just want to say, "Son, I love you." Congrat...

I can remember my father telling me that boys are easier to rear than girls. Perhaps for the first ten to twelve years of my son's life I would have agreed. My son is 16, nearing 17 years of age. Lately, I find myself wondering what happened? Mark Twain, I believe, said that when a boy reaches his teen years you should put him in a barrel and feed him through a hole in it, and when he turns 16 you should plug up the hole. There are times that I wonder if I shouldn't have followed Mr. Twain's idea. In retrospect, the issues that I have in dealing with my son come from inadequacies on my parenting. That is what is so frustrating about teens! Young children lull us into believing that everything is wonderful, so all we have to do is sit back and watch them grow. Then, as if out of some horror story, that sweet, fun loving child turns into a teen laden with all kinds of issues. What is hard for parents to face is the responsibility in the shaping of our children when t...