I spent a few days watching the series, Rectify. While a bit slow moving, I found the series to be thought provoking in countless ways related to my beliefs about life, community, family, government, and laws.
One theme in the show that I related to was the theme of supporting our adult children. Like the mom in the show, I want to be there for my children, and like the children in the show--my children have their own lives, paths, partners. Their lives are not my life. So where does that leave me as a mother?
Do the right thing
Particularly at these times, we all need support to do the right thing. While the White House leadership continually supports inhumane, bigoted, hateful, corrupt, and self-serving endeavor, I want my children to do just the opposite. I want my children to stand up and speak up for what is right and good, not what is disrespectful, hateful, and harmful. To act against the forces for evil that exist takes courage, support, and knowledge--I want to support my children's courage, support, and knowledge in ways that I can. Like all of us, I'm sure they sometimes want to bury their heads in the sand these days and ignore the heinous political, social, and environmental climate that exists on so many days and in so many places, but I don't want them to do this--I want them to act with strength and commitment to support a better, more peaceful, and loving world. A tall order yes, but as a mom, that's where I stand.
Loving
I want my children to be loving people. I want them to establish strong and loving relationships with others, and I want them to be loving, kind, and good partners. I will support this by acknowledging those they love in special ways, and supporting the choices my children make in this arena.
Joy
I want to support my children's joy. I want to support the ways they find and create that joy in healthy, positive ways. For example, one son recently bought a kayak--I've already noticed how that kayak has brought him joy. That's positive. Another son got a puppy--the puppy is bringing him great joy. That's good too, and another is vacationing at a friend's house--that too brings joy. We all need joy in our lives, and we need to support the quest for joy for one another.
Presence
Probably more than anything else, it's important for parents of adults to be present--it's important that we are there for them when they need us. They will choose and live their own lives, but when needed, it's good for us to be there to listen and offer our support as needed and possible.
We will never truly be our children's friends. Our role as parents will always be a bit different than that, but we can move closer to an adult friendship with our children--the kind of relationship where we respect each other's choices and are there to support them to be the best they can be and live the best possible lives. Onward.
One theme in the show that I related to was the theme of supporting our adult children. Like the mom in the show, I want to be there for my children, and like the children in the show--my children have their own lives, paths, partners. Their lives are not my life. So where does that leave me as a mother?
Do the right thing
Particularly at these times, we all need support to do the right thing. While the White House leadership continually supports inhumane, bigoted, hateful, corrupt, and self-serving endeavor, I want my children to do just the opposite. I want my children to stand up and speak up for what is right and good, not what is disrespectful, hateful, and harmful. To act against the forces for evil that exist takes courage, support, and knowledge--I want to support my children's courage, support, and knowledge in ways that I can. Like all of us, I'm sure they sometimes want to bury their heads in the sand these days and ignore the heinous political, social, and environmental climate that exists on so many days and in so many places, but I don't want them to do this--I want them to act with strength and commitment to support a better, more peaceful, and loving world. A tall order yes, but as a mom, that's where I stand.
Loving
I want my children to be loving people. I want them to establish strong and loving relationships with others, and I want them to be loving, kind, and good partners. I will support this by acknowledging those they love in special ways, and supporting the choices my children make in this arena.
Joy
I want to support my children's joy. I want to support the ways they find and create that joy in healthy, positive ways. For example, one son recently bought a kayak--I've already noticed how that kayak has brought him joy. That's positive. Another son got a puppy--the puppy is bringing him great joy. That's good too, and another is vacationing at a friend's house--that too brings joy. We all need joy in our lives, and we need to support the quest for joy for one another.
Presence
Probably more than anything else, it's important for parents of adults to be present--it's important that we are there for them when they need us. They will choose and live their own lives, but when needed, it's good for us to be there to listen and offer our support as needed and possible.
We will never truly be our children's friends. Our role as parents will always be a bit different than that, but we can move closer to an adult friendship with our children--the kind of relationship where we respect each other's choices and are there to support them to be the best they can be and live the best possible lives. Onward.