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Walking the line

As a parent I feel like I'm walking a line...a very narrow line that isn't always clear and has so many sharp turns and crossings that I find myself turning in circles, getting dizzy, and wondering if I can manage to stay upright. If I'm able to stay on the line, then my kids may grow up to be the next Einstein, Mother Teresa, or Ghandi.  If I can't stay on the line...well, I don't even want to think about what could happen.

Every day I walk the line but I'm doing it blindfolded.  I don't know if my choices, my actions, and my words will positively or negatively impact my kids.  Am I spending enough time with my kids?  Did I give them an appropriate explanation when they asked where babies came from or did I just scar them for life?  Will I get my kids' hopes up when talking about Santa Claus or am I setting them up for disappointment?  When is it really, truly important that I be the bad guy (or mean mom) instead of the fun mom and friend?  And so much more.

Walking the line is something that every parent must do.  Each moment of every day, we are - whether we know it or not - impacting our children's lives.  We could take a look at families we consider to be upstanding and well-functioning and try to follow what they do, but then we find ourselves comparing our own lives and decisions to those of someone else, often through hearsay or "Facebook goggles.

So, what can we do?  We continue walking the line, making the best decisions that we can with the information and situations we have.  We learn.  We grow.  Then, as we look at the world around us, we remember that the grass may appear to be greener on the other side of the fence, but it still has to be watered, weeded, fertilized and mowed to maintain that greenness.
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