Your Best Is Not Enough

We’ve all experienced it at one time or another. You studied and properly prepared for that exam; yet failed it by two points. You gave that company the best years of your life; yet still got laid off. You did your best to save your marriage; yet your spouse still left you for someone else. What do you do, when your best is not enough?

My husband and I try to raise our daughters in a safe, healthy, stable environment. We set goals as a family and encourage them to set short term goals of their own. We stress the importance of character and integrity. We talk, listen, laugh, sing, dance, play, share, agree and disagree with them regularly. Sometimes we pray together. They’ve even seen mommy and daddy cry a time or two (mostly mommy). The bottom line is, like most parents, we love our girls and want what’s best for them. We do our best to teach them all that we know and show them what “right” looks like. Nevertheless, often times the outcome is just the opposite.

The Challenge: Outside influences from school, neighbors, the media, church, family, friends, etc., somehow captures the attention of the girls and becomes “top priority”. Now I’m expected to explain why I’m so different from the “cool mom” down the street. Doing chores around the house is becoming a chore; for me. One day, my husband and I woke up and realized we know nothing. The girls have all the answers. After a routine heated discussion with one or both of the girls the other day, I realized our family has become a great “debate team”! My husband and I often try to retrace our steps to see if we missed something or dropped the ball somewhere. I mean, we’ve never been parents before. Obviously, this is a “learn as you go” kind of thing. My family has never been interviewed; therefore, there is no parenting book specifically for us to reference.

Borderline behavior, unacceptable verbal tone, and occasional poor choice of wardrobe could only mean one thing…we’re raising someone else’s kids. Clearly, we’ve been robbed. I don’t know when it happened, but it must have. Where are the well-behaved, talented kids that use to have fun with us? How do we get them back? In the near future, I’ll share how we attempt to maintain a safe, healthy, stable environment for our family. Until then, send me your comments. I’d love to hear from you!