Valentine’s Day, Parent-Style
February 13, 2009 by Julia King
My daughter has recently started dating (except they don’t call it “dating” these days, even if it involves a time, a place, a car, meeting the parents, etc.). She’s too young, of course, and the guy is too old (and his car is a VAN, for God’s sake); but ready or not, the journey begins. So suddenly we are the MOM and DAD, my husband and I — the middle-aged, softening parents playing supporting roles to a daughter with curls that cascade down her back, an emerging leading lady. We linger in the doorway as she rides off, wondering if there are rules we should know, special formulas we should have studied before opening this particular chapter. We suspect we aren’t quite ready for the big test, whatever (and whenever) that might be.
“Oh my gosh,” she says. “We’re just hanging out. It’s no big deal.”
Silly parents.
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Dear Julia,
We Mom’s and Dad’s all seem to be in the same boat with the choices our children make and how we respond to them. It is just that some of us are on different seas depending on those choices. I feel like I’m heading into the Perfect Storm with my handsome, talented, smart, son… and wonder whether my choices are leading us into the desceptively calm-eye with God-knows-what horror awaits once it passes overhead or to safer shores! Thanks for sharing!