Parenting often entails making sacrifices for the benefit of the children. A great number of these sacrifices are opportunity costs, I’ve had many conversations with parent friends of mine over the years where they lamented things they could not do because they had kids.
In March of 2009, I was engaged in a text conversation with a friend who was having a hard time dealing with these forgone opportunities. To my surprise, she saved my comments and sent them back to me last year. They do capture my feelings, albeit a bit less eloquently in their off the cuff delivery.
“Why have I dealt for over 10 years with what you are feeling such frustration over this past month? I know these three people who are incredibly special. Each different in many ways but it is their similar traits that amaze me. They are blessed with physical and intellectual talent. They have learned to be caring people, concerned for others and interested in dedicating their efforts to making the world they live in a better place. I do not know what they will accomplish in life, but I see that if they are allowed to grow to their potential, each of them can leave a very special legacy. I do believe that helping them realize their true potential is worth any amount of sacrifice I may be asked to make. My contribution to this world will be the things I did to prepare them for their life’s journey.
Because I believe in them, the painful things I endure are tolerable. I can accept the absence of things I’d like in my life knowing that absence is indirectly helping them along.
I probably won’t live to see most of what they achieve in life, but that is not really important. People who I will never meet, who are not even alive today will benefit and be blessed for the sacrifices I make now for my children. That thought makes each of those sacrifices worth it to me. It’s my way of leaving something good and healthy behind this life I’ve been given.”
