Relating to your teenage children can for a lot of parents be a challenging time. For me, my two sons grew up very quickly, it seemed only a moment ago that they were infants and then ‘young people’ and then out of the blue they hit late adolescence and early adulthood where they have their own goals and dreams as they should.
It’s a challenging area, especially when there is also divorce and continent and language barriers/differences. What a privilege it’s been to make decisions to ‘be there’ with my kids when they were young, forfeiting career and financial gain here in Australia, if asked if I would do it again I’d make the same decision, because kids need to be loved and cared for by their parents, both parents if fate allows.
I often think that my personal achievements in parenting and the sacrifices I made personally, has taught me more about family responsibility and human psychology/self development than 20 years experience and the masters qualifications that I hold. All these ‘efforts’ makes you a ‘better person’ with more to offer clients and work colleagues.
For those parents, single or otherwise who have made the right decisions and been responsible to their children, don’t give up hope on building those relationships into the future.
I was certainly surprised to hear from my youngest son after limited contact from him for the last 5 years, to have him call and say every single message I sent him via text/email/social media over covid and lockdowns (he continues to live in Norway with his brother and family) he read and that it helped him to know that I was there for him and that he was loved.
We all need as much love as we can give and receive in this world, so don’t give up on those that you love, even if you don’t hear anything back, the people you love can FEEL that love.
Even if it’s just a voice message, or in my case emails and practical guidance on career/relationships/sex/work and study options, just sending out love, they hear it, they feel it…don’t give up, keep building a future even if you feel unloved and up-supported at times….don’t give up, keep sending messages and videos….because every little thing you do and say counts!
