For someone who is adventurous, there are many things in life that will provide a thrilling challenge. Let's see...how about rock climbing or sky-diving or going on an African safari. All of them are great, however, the greatest adventure anyone can undertake is to become the parent of a child. Let me add this disclaimer: I am not talking about welfare mongers who only have children to collect federal dollars either. They disgust me, but that's a blog for another day.... (Now back to our previously started "Lessons from Life")
Even before birth, the child is totally dependent upon its mother for nourishment, health and protection. Pretty big responsibility for mom, huh?
I have been very fortunate, in that, I have been present at the birth of each one of our four children. There is nothing more precious in life than seeing that little human being born into the world, trust me. A sense of awe and wonder takes over your entire being at that moment. For me, that feeling never really went away.
You see that little miracle of life begin grow. As a parent, I look back now and wonder where did the years go and why did they go by so quickly? That newborn you held only yesterday, it seems, is now 27 years old.
As a parent, you just have to do your best. That's all you can do. Hey, did I blow it a couple times? Sure. Do I have some regrets about how I handled some situations? Absolutely. (In my own defense, the Berenstain Bears book throwing incident is actually funny, now.)
The real gut-check is when you walk your daughter down the aisle. You're relinquishing your duty as protector, provider, and knight-in-shining-armor to the man that she has chosen. It ain't easy but at some point in time you have to trust you've done your best to "train up a child in the way he should go..".
At the end of my life, I want my headstone to read, "Bill Kirby, he did his damnedest." I may not be the best at everything I do, but you can bet your ass when it comes to the adventure of being a parent, I really did do my damnedest.
Be well.
