This year my sons transitioned from preschool, where the environment was intimate and very controlled to public school kindergarten class which was the complete opposite. I don't know who it was harder for, me or them. It was very scary to watch them grow before my eyes. I don't think the staff from their new school truly appreciated or understood the magnitude this transition had on me as their mom. (HAHAHA)
Looking back, I think at times I was melodramatic, being a control freak, wanting to know what was happening throughout the day. I held everyone accountable for my sons whereabouts from their teacher all the way up to their principal. Now that we are half way through the school year and I've learned "I have to let go so they can grow." Letting go was and still is an internal tug of war for me BUT it's part of the process of life. I learned that if I don't let go, I am only crippling them for the life that waits ahead for them. I see that I am not preparing them to be strong, independent nor innovative men of integrity. My urge to protect them and nurture them was projecting my inability to trust others to help me protect, nurture and educate them. Whoa!
In 2012 I shared some memorable experiences with my sons that will last a lifetime. I think that THIS is part of the joy of parenting...sharing and living through those moments of life. This year my husband and I took our sons to Hersey Park.
Our 5 year old twins have speech and language delays. The oldest twin has Persuasive Developmental Disorder (PDD which is on the Autism Spectrum). Their expressive communication is on the level of 3 to 4 year old. However their ability to express their excitement on this trip was remarkable. I saw the progress my sons were making as a result of the therapies they participate in. More importantly I saw the joy in their eyes riding the rides and playing the arcade games. We all had a blast!
I was completely floored when I saw the "light" go on when my husband and I took them to Disney for their birthday. They were completely awed from the moment we went to the airport until we returned home. I promise you, that, was an experience none of us will forget! My sons were are able to say where they went and who they saw. I was overjoyed!
As a parent you are always looking for the "light" to go on and my husband and I saw that light while we were at Disney! Again the biggest valuable lesson I learned in 2012 was reiterated "I have to let go so they can grow."
2012 also had some horrific things happen that shocked not only me but the world. The sad events were the tragedies and lives impacted from Hurricane Sandy in NYC and the senseless killings in Newtown, CT. So many lives were lost and displaced from these two events. Our prayers still go out to these families. These events taught me to show my love outwardly to my family and friends daily because you never know when one event could separate you from the ones you love. Love is not just a feeling, it's a feeling that's coupled with an action. I can not take the feeling without action for granted.
So what did you learn in 2012?
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