The other day my sister and I were spending time with our adult daughters relaxing and hanging out in the pool. They were talking about growing up with us and one of my daughters said:
“Mom you did the best you could.”
It was interesting. When I heard it, I thought – Oh OK. So not good or great – not bad or awful – but “…the best you could.” Honestly, my reaction was confusion. I didn’t know how to react to it.
So, I didn’t “react” to it.
Instead, I asked her what she meant. When she told me – I had a lot of thoughts about it. I tried to explain the reason for my actions – but I stopped and just said “OK.”
It wasn’t OK though. I kept thinking how I could have done it differently so her experience would have been instead “Mom you were great.”
Two days later my brain was still ruffling through my memories and wondering if I could have done anything different.
My answer was – “No.”
The reason I know this for sure is because when I was raising my kids my decisions relative to them were always very purposeful and intentional. They were thought out and I always, always had a reason behind my decisions with the information and tools I had at that time. All action I took for them was out of love and for their own good and never in disregard of them.
There’s nothing I would have done differently when it came to them.
So yes – she’s right – I did the “best I could.” And, I’m happy with that.
Quote of the Week
“To be in your children’s memories tomorrow,
You have to be in their lives today.” Barbara Johnson
