I am not a dumb woman…at least I didn’t think so prior to becoming a parent. In fact, I was quite certain I had all sorts of knowledge and what I didn’t know, I figured I could find a way to learn it when I needed it. Being a parent, however, has been the one thing in my life that has humbly reminded me that there is so much in this world that I really DON’T know!
It isn’t that my children tell me I’m stupid (at least they didn’t until they became teenagers and they don’t try to get away with it very often), it is more that circumstances and family situations cause me to feel that way all on my own. There isn’t a day that goes by that something doesn’t pop up that I have no idea how to handle. My kids are endlessly creative in coming up with ways to puzzle and confuse mom!
As a matter of fact, they seem to have a way of inherently knowing when I “think” I’ve figured things out or come up with marvelously creative ways to solve a problem or an issue and then they totally throw me a curve ball or come up with a new twist. It has taught me to be cautious in diagnosing problems and not assume that just because one of my children did something for a specific reason one time, that they will stay true to form and do the same thing for the same reason the NEXT time.
I know that I am not alone—I cannot tell you how many brilliant, confident people I have seen reduced to an insecure puddle by parenthood. Just adding an innocent, charming child into the mix has a way of shaking all of us down to our intelligence core. Why did they do that? How do we handle it? And how on earth are we going to stay one step ahead of them?
Also: Release and Detach
Will They Ever Be Responsible Enough for My Taste?