Making Peace with Our Parents

[fureverywhere]

I've found that too. I feel for my Mom now. She was a tank, very take charge. Admirable trait but I was mousey and shy. I was always embarrassing her and so on. I couldn't help being afraid and it created friction. But with my youngest daughter I accept her as she is...I still mouse out sometimes...but even with her disabilities she is one of the most outgoing social butterflies you can imagine.

I wonder with my Dad if it's being 90 something and his medication mixes . Earlier tonight he called...upbeat for him, so happy with a book I gave him about getting books to the service in WWII. He's on like ten kinds of pills, that probably doesn't help his mood sometimes.

 

[imp]

I had a few "conflicts" with my parents in my teen years....and then I went into the military, and grew up. After a few years in the military, and away from the folks, I began to understand their "wisdom". Once I returned from overseas, and gained some maturity, our relationship was Much Improved. Then, I really began to appreciate their teachings when we had our children, and they reached their teen years. If a person is lucky, they are able to build upon the lessons learned from prior generations, and become a better person, as a result.

My nephew Dan, only 5 years younger than I (a 5 year-old "uncle" I was!), was a terror in high-school, worked a year or so after, while attending college, but looked to be going nowhere. Joined the Marine Corps. On leave, he came to visit my wife & I, she having kicked him out of our house for insubordinate behavior before he joined up; now he amazed her with "yes, ma'am", please, thank you. He had become a gracious adult!

Jump ahead many years, his own son Danny, beleaguered by Dan's and his Mother's divorce just prior to their 25th. wedding anniversary, quit high-school, baked pizzas a year or two, his Dad's wisdom then prevailed, Danny got his GED, joined the Marine Corps! He has made a career of it, is now the best-seated of three brothers, married, made Staff Sergeant in September!

Military service drastically changed these two lives, for the better! imp