Much of parenthood is about anticipation. It’s about anticipating what may happen and then about avoiding all the unwanted turns of events from actually happening.
Unwanted can be anything really from spina bifida to spilled apple juice, knocked out teeth and broken toys, bad posture, bad boy friends, bad attitudes...you name it.
Keeping life under control is a very strong impulse inside us. But predictability is the first thing that falls by the wayside with the arrival of a mini human. Pregnancy can be quite an eye opener in that respect, since the vagaries of life manifest themselves only too boldly during those nine months of anticipation.
Yet, we try to make ourselves believe that we are in fact in charge, and that after all we do hold some invisible golden thread in our hands that pulls luck onto our side when needed.
Over a life time we accumulate a fat pocket full of tricks to use in the event of trouble. Anything from religion to social networks, access to information, and money can be summoned to keep the worst from happening (like that bad boy friend).
But what about all the rest? The daily skips and bumps, the heart breaks and runny noses, the ripped pants and flat tires, and above all, the dozens and dozens of glasses of spilled apple juice?
Well, there is not much we can do about them and maybe it’s good that way. Life is life after all and shit is bound to happen.
1 comment:
Forget the books - parenting is how to become a psychic.
Post a Comment