I will never be your friend. I am and will always be infinitely more. I created you. I housed you within myself. I nurtured you and built you from a collection of simple cells. I carried you long before your legs were strong enough. I loved you long before you ever took a breath. So, no, I will never be your friend. I will forever be your mother.
When did being a parent become less than a friendship? Friends will come and go throughout your lifespan, but we will always be your parents. We will never NOT be your parents. Even when you don’t want us to be. Friends will abandon you. We will not. We may not get along all the time, but you will always have a safe place to fall as long as we are here to catch you.
Friends can talk you into doing stupid stuff. We will try to protect you from yourself. Friends will blame you and judge you and turn on you. We won’t. Friends will protect themselves without hesitation. We will protect you with no regard for ourselves. Because we have loved you long before you knew what love was.
Our love for our children is never-ending. I may not be able to move a mountain in a day but if my child needed it moved I wouldn’t stop shoveling until it was. We are also those parents that will allow them to fall to teach them about pain, strength, and attention. Some of the most important lessons you will ever teach your child will come with pain. Love hurts, but the lesson is that it’s worth it. They are worth it.
So why would you ever want to be a friend to your child? Friends will do what is best for themselves, not what is best for your child. Parents are the cheer squad, bodyguard, tutor, teacher, and biggest fan of their children. Becoming a “friend” is a step down in their lives. Friends don’t have the power to love a child more than the child loves themselves. A parent does. I would lay my life down for my children without hesitation.
Don’t shortchange yourself. Being a parent to your children is far better than being a friend. My girls are all grown up and being adults now…but they are my babies and I am today and will be forever their Momma.
Love your children as a parent would. It’s the job we were given when they were given to us.
As always, until next time…Find joy. Be joy. Enjoy.
New Ink. Used Ideas. 