It is official. At age 47, I am Mr. Mom. My wife has gone to work and I am left with the awesome responsibility of providing primary parenting to my 2.4 year old son. Now, when I say awesome, I mean as in “Aw he’s so cute when he is asleep”, as well as “Aw sh#t, how did he get that peanut stuck up his nose.” Awesome indeed. When my wife and I first found out that we were going to be new parents for the third time at age 45, we were excited and apprehensive. Most people told us how great the experience would be. “You will have so much more patience with this one”, and my all-time favorite “He will keep you young.” More patience, hmmmmmmm, let’s see how much patience you have (at any age) when your child is running around the house sans diaper yelling I’m peeing while actually performing said bodily function all over the carpet. Can you summon that patience when you are stranded on the toilet as he grabs the toilet paper and runs out of the room laughing? I reject your false perception that age brings patience! How am I doing with that whole being kept young thing? Let’s see, I wrenched my back getting him into his car seat today. Not sleeping through the night sure leaves me feeling youthful and refreshed. How about chasing him through K-Mart while a nice young man says “he’s getting away from you grandpa,” ah yes, the youthfulness is practically dripping from me. Sorry, that’s sweat from trying to beat him to the road before he runs into traffic. Please don’t get me wrong, I love my youngest and feel blessed to have him. It’s kind of like when you think you have eaten that last M&M, and one more drops out of the package providing a satisfaction that is different from the ones that came before it (is that too much of a stretched metaphor?). My point simply is that parenting is a tough job and it is not any easier just because you are older. Sometimes, it may even be tougher. My observation for those of you who may now be or may soon becoming “older” parents is that it provides a fresh perspective. One that you may have lost as you have aged. I sometimes am driven crazy by my son’s favorite question, “why daddy?” When I take time to stop and think however, it is kind of cool to realize that so much is new to him and I am getting the opportunity, for the third time in my life, to watch while a new little person takes in the world for the first time.
Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age travels alone
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December 14, 2009 at 9:57 pm |
Did you punch the guy who called you a grandpa?! That sucks!
I think you are doing a great job considering that Luke has more energy than God ever intended one child to have – not to mention the mischief that he makes.
I always tell Jacob and Nick that it’s a good thing they are cute because if they weren’t I’d have already sold them to Gypsies.
Michelle
December 15, 2009 at 12:43 am |
I have huge respect for my parents. They were 40 when I came along. I was number 5, so my poor mother was pretty much worn out when I debuted. I can remember being particularly ticked off that my parents were actually more like grandparents when I was in high school (no thanks to you…whose parents were in their 30s at the time). Anyway, I think we are God’s gift to each other…the child to the parent, and the parent to the child.
Merry Christmas, grandpa!