Spending time with your parents
There’s a discussion going on at the Wall Street Journal column, The Juggle, about finding time for your parents.
The discussion centers around adult children who live away from their parents, and, how people find the time to stay connected.
I chimed in that no matter where you live in relation to your parents, sometimes the busy lives of both parties make it difficult to spend time together. I live in the same city as my dad, and, sometimes we don’t see each other much, but, we always stay in touch. That’s just life right now. He works, I work, my husband works, we have 3 kids in school, etc.
People give suggestions such as planning a regular phone call, sending e-mail (using a Presto. OK, they didn’t say that, but, don’t forget to enter my contest to win a Presto, and, send e-mail to your parents who might not have a computer), using webcams, etc.
I think sometimes a lot of guilt happens in an adult’s relationship with their parents, but, there comes a point that if you are truly doing everything you can do to stay in touch with your parents, then you need to let it go. I’ve often said that one of the best gifts my parents have given/gave me as an only child is the assumption that I’m doing/did the best that I can do at the time when it comes to them.
When I’m older, and, my kids are adults, I hope I can keep that in mind, and, give my children the same gift. I think it’s normal to want to spend time with the people you love, but, the reality is that we can’t always do it the way we want to. Sure, there are people who abuse that, but, I can’t worry about them, I just have to worry about me.
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1 opinion for Spending time with your parents
Pete Sampson
Sep 11, 2007 at 10:47 am
I hope I’ve given my daughter that same assumption (that I always understand and believe she is doing the best she can). She lives 300 miles away in the big city and has a busy life.
My wife and I don’t need care just yet. Our family joke with our daughter is that we can all be really close friends through these happy years “when no one is in diapers.”
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