There have been emails, columns, comic strips, and comedy
routines about how kids perceive their parents.
Let’s take a look at a “typical” relationship, over time.
I think from birth until a child enters school, they think
their parents are absolutely, unquestionably the wisest people on the
planet. I mean, really, we’ve taught
them everything they know. Treasure this
time – it is about to change.
During the elementary school years, our child discovers that
there are other people that know, at least as much as we do – if not more. That little glimmer of doubt enters their
minds, as they discover we are fallible.
The middle school years bring even more intelligent people
into their sphere, their peers. With
these peers comes the peer parents, who let their children jump off a
bridge! Hm, not only are we fallible,
but we aren’t cool anymore either, sigh.
Ah, the high school years, chuckle. This is when we become fallible, uncool, idiots.
Our children know far better than we do what can happen at the party
down the street, the house with the parents out of town for the weekend. Nothing bad ever happens in that situation.
As young adults, our children are learning what it means to be
an adult. We have never had to job hunt
or make a car payment, or decide whether to marry or not, so what words of
wisdom could we possible impart?
Parents – take heart!
When our children become parents, we suddenly have value again. I’m not talking about as babysitters, either. Our kids begin to realize that we might be
able to provide some words of advice that may assist them in childrearing. Of course, it helps when we laugh and
comment, “Hm, wonder where she gets THAT from?!” Or maybe, “What goes around comes around,
huh?” as we snicker.
I guess going from genius to idiot to wise is the pattern of
life most of us will go through. The
genius phase is wonderful. The idiot
phase just plain stinks, but when we reach the wise stage, we truly are wiser. It shows in our demeanor, our tolerance level
and our patience.
As a grandparent – I love this stage. However, my grandkids are young. I wonder if the phase will start all over
once they get to middle school. I hope the
idiot stage is reserved for parents and grandparents are always wise.
