June 26, 2023

Parenting 3

Home sweet pineapple

First goal of parenting is to create a better life for your kids than the one you had.1 I am grateful that on both my paternal and maternal sides, I think this has come to pass over the generations we can look back on.

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I think I’m doing an ok job continuing that legacy. But there’s one thing that I have fallen down on. There’s something about being able to go back to your childhood home as an adult. Feeling the comfort and warmth, reliving the memories and generally having a feeling of safety. My parents2 have lived in their house for 42.5 years.3 I moved my kids last week and now have lived in 19 different homes,4 17 after leaving my parents, and 9 since having kids.5

This occurred to me on Father’s Day. It was a Sunday, funday, so a nap was going to be difficult. We got to my parents’ for an early BBQ, but I had just run out of steam. I went down to the cold, dark basement, lay down, and took a 20 minute snooze. The feeling of comfort, walking into my home,6 even though it’s not my home,7 knowing the exact right spot to nap, not needing to acclimate — it was a wonderful feeling. I’ve moved too much to have given my kids that gift. That said, I am proud to be giving them something else eternal and priceless — the gift of understanding and enjoying a nap.

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