This is what I love about being a grandparent. You're free from the distractions of life and you can see the world anew through the eyes of a child. It's a magical time, and it's sadly very short. It's also a sad commentary on the life of your new 5-year-old friend, whose paid nanny does not include exploring the world with him as part of her duties. The subtle, yet worrying clue, is his asking if you could show him how to build stick houses. A child's curiosity is like a flower that should be nurtured and allowed to grow on its own. You are wise to seek a new home, and you know what's important for the best environment for your daughter. She's fortunate to have such an excellent mom.
Thank you for this heartfelt comment, Jim. Exactly what I needed today. As far as the nanny goes, I kinda get it. She had three kids and she's probably getting paid for one and a half. I often overhear nannies complain about their employers and about the things they're made to do... It's so sweet to hear you say that about being a grandparent. I can imagine how wonderful that would be. My mom is a much more relaxed grandma than she was a mom (from what I remember). She's almost delightful!
There's a very good reason for that. We are trained to be parents by our parents. But they are just figuring it out themselves. As a father I made *MANY* mistakes that I will regret to my final day. Either my 3 sons have forgiven me, or they have chosen to forget them. A lot of mistakes are made due to the fierceness of the love a parent has for a child. You want them to be perfect, to not make mistakes you've made, to live a perfect life. This is an impossible goal, and a child who makes no mistakes learns nothing. I can see that you and your daughter will be very close. Your training now, and your love for her, will make her a wonderful mother some day, and you will understand why all you are doing now will be so worth it.
Thank you, Jim. I often find myself trying to figure out the logistics of my daughter's life or the best ways to be a parent instead of playing with her. Sometimes I think of myself as an administrator rather than a parent. While others get to play with my daughter, I get to do the paperwork. I feel so guilty about it and I'm sure it's just one of the many things I'll regret (already am!). Circle to what you said. I hope our kids will forgive us, or at least forget. We're doing our best. I'm sure you were a good dad, even if not a perfect one.
This is what I love about being a grandparent. You're free from the distractions of life and you can see the world anew through the eyes of a child. It's a magical time, and it's sadly very short. It's also a sad commentary on the life of your new 5-year-old friend, whose paid nanny does not include exploring the world with him as part of her duties. The subtle, yet worrying clue, is his asking if you could show him how to build stick houses. A child's curiosity is like a flower that should be nurtured and allowed to grow on its own. You are wise to seek a new home, and you know what's important for the best environment for your daughter. She's fortunate to have such an excellent mom.
Thank you for this heartfelt comment, Jim. Exactly what I needed today. As far as the nanny goes, I kinda get it. She had three kids and she's probably getting paid for one and a half. I often overhear nannies complain about their employers and about the things they're made to do... It's so sweet to hear you say that about being a grandparent. I can imagine how wonderful that would be. My mom is a much more relaxed grandma than she was a mom (from what I remember). She's almost delightful!
There's a very good reason for that. We are trained to be parents by our parents. But they are just figuring it out themselves. As a father I made *MANY* mistakes that I will regret to my final day. Either my 3 sons have forgiven me, or they have chosen to forget them. A lot of mistakes are made due to the fierceness of the love a parent has for a child. You want them to be perfect, to not make mistakes you've made, to live a perfect life. This is an impossible goal, and a child who makes no mistakes learns nothing. I can see that you and your daughter will be very close. Your training now, and your love for her, will make her a wonderful mother some day, and you will understand why all you are doing now will be so worth it.
Thank you, Jim. I often find myself trying to figure out the logistics of my daughter's life or the best ways to be a parent instead of playing with her. Sometimes I think of myself as an administrator rather than a parent. While others get to play with my daughter, I get to do the paperwork. I feel so guilty about it and I'm sure it's just one of the many things I'll regret (already am!). Circle to what you said. I hope our kids will forgive us, or at least forget. We're doing our best. I'm sure you were a good dad, even if not a perfect one.