My son’s nose started running on a Friday. I had been feeling his forehead and checking to see how swollen his glands were, hovering and worried for days, so he asked me why I was being so annoying.
“I never got you two your flu shots. I really hope it’s just a cold, but I’m kicking myself for not getting around to it.”
“Mom, it’s okay. I’m fine. We can get it later.”
“It’s not fine. It’s my job, and I didn’t do it.”
“It’s not your job to do everything.”
“Yes it is.”
“No it isn’t.”
“Yes it is.”
“No it isn’t.”
“Yes it—“
“MOM. ‘Everything’ isn’t a job. That doesn’t even make sense. You do so much, a late flu shot is okay. I’m okay and you’re okay. We’re all doing okay and that’s what matters.”
And dammit, he’s right.
Yet again, I forgot that I’m human and can—should—only do so much, not beat myself up over being human. In one eye-rolling statement, he gave me a two-part gift: reminding me that I don’t have to do everything, and assuring me that he is okay.
I needed to hear it, so I thought maybe I could tell you all that his words apply to you, too. Because I bet I’m not the only one who was kicking themself this week over some parenting thing that didn’t meet the “Everything” standard.
A standard that even a sniffly 14-year-old knows isn’t fair to his parents because he is absolutely okay without it..
Kim Bongiorno is an author, full time freelance writer, and the blogger behind Let Me Start By Saying. Learn more by connecting with her: Facebook · Twitter · Instagram · Goodreads · Amazon.com · BookBub · Newsletter
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