The Gift of Life

When you look back on your writings sometimes you can see tings that were not in your mind when you wrote the original words (beyond a few typos).

We live in a world with laws about dog care, smoking, how to build a house and many other things. Gays can't marry yet heterosexuals don't seem to do a very good job of marriage themselves. Yet it is easier to have a child than it is to adopt a puppy from the pound.

I have heard many of my friends say it about raising their children....I am not going to be like my mother/father. My need to have Jessica in her own bedroom was part of my childhood. We learn good and bad from every experience in life. Some parents look for wisdom in a book or other "program" for parenting.

There is no Golden Rule, no panacea. All you can do is learn and apply the basics:

• CPR and basic medical care
• some level of simple cooking
• listening skills; listen to your child and to others who talk to you about your child
• your child is an individual not your little carbon copy, treat him/her like they are special
• be The Parent, it is ok that your child has a tiny little fear (the sleepover story supports this-spilt chocolate milk, Jessica tellling her friend that she has to tell her mom, frien going "no, no", Jessica tells, I calmly have them clean it up)

Life is the ultimate gift and it should be lived well. The best thing to remember is to do your best and learn to be forgiving because everyone screws up and learning is lifelong.