Parents, we are a work in progress!

Every day, every year, and every child is different! Each one is filled with unique and exhilarating moments, as well as daunting challenges for us mere mortals. We humans know that we are not perfect. And since parents are human too, no matter what those kids say, we’re obviously not perfect either. However, the beautiful things about being human and being a human parent is that we don’t have to be perfect because we are still in a work in progress. We still have hope. We still have the ability to offer hope to others. And that’s perfect enough in my book. Hopefully, it will also be in yours.

I still remember the first time I heard that phrase ‘a work in progress’. Many years ago a group of older parents sat at my kitchen table, trying to show my wife and me, who were new parents at the time, how to do something. They spoiled the demonstration like crazy. And when it finally got a little awkward, and even a little painful, the older dad looked at us and said, “Hey, what can I say? I’m still a work in progress. I give hope to others. I can do it.” This parenting thing, you can too. “

Five children and many years later, I can still vividly remember that lesson at my kitchen table. And you know what? He was correct. My wife and I have messed up a few things along the way. No! Do so many things. Yes. We have screwed up a lot of things in the way of parenthood. But guess that? We are still doing that parenting thing. We are still doing it. And in a way we are making this work as a parent. And if we can do it, you can too. I guess now we too are givers of hope for the next generation.

Now, as my grandfather always said: “Go learn, lead and open the way to a better world for all of us.” Remember parents, we are still a work in progress. And that’s a really good thing. And once again parents, thank you in advance for all that you do and all that you will do …