I was getting my hair done today and waiting for my pre-mature gray to be covered (This is what my hairdresser calls them so it is an official diagnosis!) A lady next to me told me that her daughter just graduated from the high school that my son attends. I asked where her daughter is going to college and she went into a rant about how sad that she is that her daughter is moving to the Middle East for school.
She said that her daughter was like her roommate, her partner, her best friend. She is a single mother and her other children are grown and have careers. She is devastated that her last baby is moving. I asked whether she was happy at all for her daughter and she said "no"!
While I realize that it will be difficult to see my kids leave the nest, I truly hope that I will be happy that my kids are learning to fly. Isn't that what parenthood is all about? Don't we have children so that they will go off and be happy? Do some people have children instead of just getting a roommate? Isn't that more expensive and way more work?
I'm at the stage where my mom-friends are starting to get seriously crazy about college planning. Every grade counts? Every extra-curricular activity counts. Getting into a good college is all consuming. I'm trying to enjoy the ride and focus on the fact that even if my kids don't go to Harvard (they aren't), that they will get into some college and that being happy and having a good life, now and in the future, are the most important things. This is quite difficult, but I'm trying. Day by day.
The crazy mom at the hair salon had no problem telling a complete stranger that she was not happy for her child. Her child may be trying to get as far away as possible from her, hence the school in the middle east!!!
Blogging friends, please remind me of this story in a few short years!
4 comments:
The Middle East? As in THE Middle East? Or the mid east of the country? Wow I do not think I would let my child (if I had one) to live alone in the Middle East at 18 and especially a girl. Hmm. That is a strange reaction. Well you know what they say. You need a license to get a pet but you need jack s**t to procreate.
Ali of
Dressing Ken
Oh-That is sad that the mother feels that way. It is never easy to see your kids moving along with life but it is the right and good order of things. We are so blessed when we have children that are smart and don't get involved with drugs and alcohol and all the other downfalls that seem to grab teenagers. I think that mother should be happy that her daughter is healthy and smart and headed off to start a good life. No wonder she is going so far away-she is probably feeling smothered by her mother- xo Diana
Japolina, Do you think it could be all the un-rest in the middle east ...or was she just wanting to keep her child forever. I miss my girls something fierce..but I raised them to go have a good life,with children, husbands, and jobs of their own. I know I am blessed with my daughters and grandkids..blessed. No crazyness. I thank God for my children, I do not want them to move back home...but one day I may move in with them LOL.xoxo,Susie
It sounds like she may be feeling a bit selfish right now because she has put so much time in with her daughter. And now her daughter is moving on so easily without her. My son graduated high school last year and decided against college for now. He wants to go into the Air Force Reserves and get on with the fire dept. His dad works there now. She should be happy that her daughter has plans for her future instead of just flittering her life away as some kids do!
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