So questioning your actions and wondering if you are doing the right thing = ignorance in your book? As my mother used to say, it must be nice to be so perfect.
The tough part about parenting is transitioning from protecting them from everything at birth to protecting them from nothing when they leave the nest. This strip Is about one of the changes.
Every parent does this- most of us, almost every night and several times throughout the day. I don’t know one of us who isn’t aware of many of our faults (and unaware of many more!), and terrified about how we could be hurting our children, and how we could be doing more for them.
I love my children, and fail them every day- be it what I feed them, how I react to something they say, if I am too tough or not tough enough…
My children are bright, but not very hard-working and motivated (my husband, an engineer, was- and I am as well, though I really wasn’t a great SAHM). This series hits home hard with me. I really want to help my children to understand the value of hard work and persistence. Not to do that is to fail them. But, still love them as they are, and not push them into stress, anxiety, depression as are common in my family- making them feel they’re not good enough. My son is currently having a minor panic attack about typing one paragraph for homework. He’s 10. Did we push him too hard? Not hard enough? Do we not hold him enough, or encourage him to build his own self-confidence enough?
I wonder all the time, especially since my older kids are old enough to tell me what I did wrong! Even though the oldest two both earned scholarships for college and a third is on his way.
The comic is supposed to show the difficulty of always knowing what to do when raising kids. I don’t think parents should ever pretend to have all the answers — it doesn’t mean they’re ignorant — it means they’re realistic.
At the risk of belaboring the obvious, Michael is whining he has to take music lessons. Compared to the fact that Brian Enjo does far more extracurricular activites than him and is a superior student, and that Gordon Mayes takes on whatever kind of work he can to help his family, Michael has it damn easy. Quit your bellyaching and join the human race, Michael!
ladykat over 9 years ago
So questioning your actions and wondering if you are doing the right thing = ignorance in your book? As my mother used to say, it must be nice to be so perfect.
Retired Dude over 9 years ago
I don’t think my parents EVER had questions like that.
summerdog86 over 9 years ago
I think my parents would lie there and think up new ways to make my life miserable.
flagmichael over 9 years ago
The tough part about parenting is transitioning from protecting them from everything at birth to protecting them from nothing when they leave the nest. This strip Is about one of the changes.
Mickeylacey over 9 years ago
My biggest fear has always been that I might turn out to be just like my mother!!
Sailor46 USN 65-95 over 9 years ago
Answers!? I’m not sure I even know what the Questions are!
masnadies over 9 years ago
Every parent does this- most of us, almost every night and several times throughout the day. I don’t know one of us who isn’t aware of many of our faults (and unaware of many more!), and terrified about how we could be hurting our children, and how we could be doing more for them.
I love my children, and fail them every day- be it what I feed them, how I react to something they say, if I am too tough or not tough enough…
My children are bright, but not very hard-working and motivated (my husband, an engineer, was- and I am as well, though I really wasn’t a great SAHM). This series hits home hard with me. I really want to help my children to understand the value of hard work and persistence. Not to do that is to fail them. But, still love them as they are, and not push them into stress, anxiety, depression as are common in my family- making them feel they’re not good enough. My son is currently having a minor panic attack about typing one paragraph for homework. He’s 10. Did we push him too hard? Not hard enough? Do we not hold him enough, or encourage him to build his own self-confidence enough?
QuietStorm27 over 9 years ago
I wonder all the time, especially since my older kids are old enough to tell me what I did wrong! Even though the oldest two both earned scholarships for college and a third is on his way.
Can't Sleep over 9 years ago
there will come a day when Michael will know he does not know anything……its called wake up time.-—————No, it’s called parenthood.
tuslog64 over 9 years ago
In apx. 20 years, you’ll know————-
2252895 over 9 years ago
10 days after I turned 18, 1976, I learned I didn’t know everything. First day of Marine Corps boot camp.
lindz.coop Premium Member over 9 years ago
The comic is supposed to show the difficulty of always knowing what to do when raising kids. I don’t think parents should ever pretend to have all the answers — it doesn’t mean they’re ignorant — it means they’re realistic.
USN1977 over 9 years ago
At the risk of belaboring the obvious, Michael is whining he has to take music lessons. Compared to the fact that Brian Enjo does far more extracurricular activites than him and is a superior student, and that Gordon Mayes takes on whatever kind of work he can to help his family, Michael has it damn easy. Quit your bellyaching and join the human race, Michael!