M8RiArKin’ Ain’t Easy
Where did yesterday go? I was doing so well with posting every day and then an entire 24 hours slipped by without me noticing. My niece V is here visiting and I’m in the middle of this book edit for one client and a big recruiting campaign for another and I’ve got a teenager here who isn’t content with watching TV and playing Wii all day. What is that about?
I tried to get all of my work done before V arrived so that we could spend every moment together but it just didn’t happen. I’ve got too much to do and of course, assignments keep piling in every day, which is a good thing, but it’s cutting into my time with V.
The great thing is that she really wants to spend time with me. V and I have a close relationship and as I woke up this morning stressed out about how to keep her occupied while I get all of my writing done, I realized that I’m the one who created it. Although we haven’t spent a lot of time together over the years, when we have, I’ve always tried to make sure it was quality. I talk to her about her thoughts and feelings and hope that the silence I usually get in return is just her being a kid and not a sign that she wishes I’d just shut up.
Not that I really think that because, every once in a while she’ll open up and share some really personal details about her life that I’m pretty sure she doesn’t tell everyone.
Now that she’s a teenager and having teenager problems, I’m thankful for every, “You wanna talk?” and, “Let’s talk,” and, “Well then, I’ll just talk,” I’ve thrown at her over the years. She knows without a doubt that I care and am here for her and that she can trust me to love her unconditionally. When I was growing up, my mom had a Ron Popeil philosophy about raising children: set it and forget it! As long as we were alive, things were good in her book, and I’m afraid that my sister has that view as well. So, even if V doesn’t have any interest in telling me the details about fights with her boyfriend or issues with mean girls at school, I know that she knows that she could if she changed her mind. And I’m really proud of that.
June 23rd, 2011 at 6:35 pm
I kind of do the same thing with my “little” sister (I volunteer for big brothers/big sisters)….I get total silence many times, but I KNOW they appreciate and value the availability of a respected, concerned adult. Keep it up!