Parenthood

     One of my favorite movies is “Parenthood” with Steve Martin.  I like its realistic depiction of family life . . . no too much like “Leave it to Beaver” or “Father Knows Best”  but not too much like the “Simpsons”.    I have showed the movie to my youth group once; an excellent discussion starter on family life.   Anyway, parenthood is on my mind lately.  My youngest graduated from Texas A&M and after spending the summer working at church camp, got a job with an aviation company in Houston doing weather for pilots.   My oldest just got his Masters in Literature, his wife also got her’s in Public Health and they are both now serving in the peace corp in a place call Turkmenistan.  My middle child is working on his PHD in Math Education, his wife just got her Masters in Counseling and is working at UT.  As I contemplate all this, I wonder as a parent, what is it I did right; or maybe they turned out this way inspite of my parenting skills, not because of them.   Whatever happened, I did the best I could; both Maxine and did.     The highlight of the holiday season, seeing our kids . . . and talking to Dean and Robin from Turkmenistan.  You know, the highlight of being a parent after they have grown, is waiting at the door for them to visit.   The lowlight, knowing they have to leave.   Parenthood.  Got to love it.