Just Another Post On Parenting

2014 is turning in to a banner year for me and my son Tyler.  I feel incredibly close to him and he's definitely opening up to me.  This is all important for me because I was not close to my parents.  At all.  I came to terms with my issues with them years ago and have forgiven them for being so so strict with me.  There really isn't any rhyme or reason how they parented though - I couldn't do certain things and if I did want to go out with friends I had to take one or both of my siblings.  Looking back at it, I can't believe my parents trusted me as a 16 year old and let me drag my 3 year old sister around.  Best believe that everything I went through made me who I am today and the parent I am now.  For my oldest son to share his life with me is freakin' amazing.  

I wanted to write this post after the tattoo post because I finally met his girlfriend.  We got to attend a soft opening of the new Farrell's in my city (which is open now so go!) and I told him he could bring her.  She's quite lovely.  And she didn't bat an eye at our conversation and warped sense of humor. Boys are hard but she handled it like a champ.  I like her.  

I don't ever want my kids to wonder if they are loved.  I want them to know my hugs and kisses.  I want them to know my door is always open and I want them to make mistakes and own up to 'em.  I want them to find their place and just be happy.      

My parenting advice: If you think your parents did good with you, follow their parenting style.  If you want better for your kids, do better.  It's that simple.

My Kid's First Tattoo

Ty's first tattoo, not finished yet.

My oldest kid got a tattoo.  

Saying that will take some time getting used to.  He's still healing actually and so am I.  It's definitely something I thought I wouldn't have to worry about for another year when he turned 18.  You know that age when your child is officially an ADULT.  I'm not gonna be dramatic and say I was mad because I actually wasn't.  I was just a little disappointed.  He's newly 17, celebrating his birthday at the end of January.  He's the oldest but still my baby and will always be.  He's still a teenager in my eyes... not able to make these types of decisions.  Or so I thought... maybe we don't give our kids enough credit because I am relieved that Ty had the foresight to get the tattoo behind his leg.  I would've died if he got a brand or name tattoo.  I guess that's what's cool with kids these days and not tribal bands or barbed wire like in my day.  I feel better telling myself that it could have been so much worse.  And he came over on his own to make sure I was okay and show me it.  He didn't hide it from us and it is artsy.

I wasn't close to my parents and couldn't tell them anything growing up.  When I was 17, all I thought about was lying to my parents because they couldn't handle the life I wanted to live.  And here is my kid at 17, sharing his life with me.  At 38 years old and four kids later, I'm definitely not the parent I thought I would be.  All parents have a vision of what's right and perfect but you gotta be willing to adjust down the line...  that's real parenting to me.