Divorce and Parenting 101: Learning to appreciate even the chaotic moments

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This article will be the second article on this column that quotes Erma Bombeck. The first mention of her was in the article entitled Marriage Divorce and Parenthood. What if you Treated Your Friends Like Your Kids, the direct link of which can be accessed above.

This article will bring home one of Erma Bombeck's points about being too caught up in the act of parenting to be able to enjoy it. Bottom line, what she tells us is that golden moments will go far too quickly and if not careful you could waste frivolous valuable time on "over parenting" and not enjoying your actual parenting journey.

A young mother writes: "I know you've written before about the empty-nest syndrome -- that lonely period after the children are grown and gone. Right now, I'm up to my eyeballs in laundry and muddy boots. The baby is teething; the boys are fighting. My husband just called and said to eat without him, and I fell off my diet. Lay it on me again, will you.''

OK. One of these days you'll explode and shout to the kids, "Why don't you grow up and act your age?"
...and they will.

OR:

"You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do. And don't slam the door!"
...and they don't.

You'll straighten up the boys' bedroom neat and tidy -- bumper stickers discarded, bedspread tucked and smooth, toys displayed on the shelves. Hangers in the closet. Animals caged. And you'll say out loud, "Now I want it to stay this way.''
...and it will.

Corinne Frontiero

Find out more about Corinne:

Corinne has a dual specialty, as a Paralegal and with a background in Developmental Psychology. She has authored three relationship recovery books: Moving Forward, Project Teen Intervene, and The Childrens' Divorce Support Group. See www.booksonrelationships.net. Corinne is an author, presenter and Radio Talk Show Host for the Motown Writers Network. She also has a strong Facilitation/presentation background, having designed, facilitated and presented customized work shops. Contact Corinne for an independent function @ cfrontiero@comcast.net. – Bio Photo by Sue McCain.