Dear Parent of a Son

Dear Parent of a 3 day old son: I know what you’re probably thinking. You’re scared half to death, but you can’t die because you have responsibility for another human being now. And you’ve had no training for it either. You are wondering how this tiny swaddled bundle could play your heart strings like that when he opens his eyes and looks into yours.  You didn’t even know you had that kind of love inside of you.

Dear Parent of a 3 month old son: I know, I know! He’s the cutest thing ever! Grinning, gurgling, raising that little head up all by himself, maybe turning over. He’s pure genius. By now you’ve had more than a few worries.  You’ve planted some seeds of parental confidence, hoping they will bloom before he grows up. Then you accidentally pinch his thigh with the snap on his onesie and know you are completely unfit.

Dear Parent of a 3 year old son: Who would have predicted this little superhero would jump through every milestone, oblivious to your comparing, tracking, and worrying about them. He has a thousand wiggles struggling to burst out. When his feelings get hurt, yours hurt more. You’ve navigated a few ear infections and skinned knees and your first emergency room visit. He’s tougher than you think. He says the sweetest things. He says the funniest things. Write them down. Seriously, write them down.

Dear Parent of a 13 year old son: So exactly how did this happen?  Three to thirteen in about ten days. You thought it would take ten years, didn’t you? But what do you know? Right now, not much. You won’t know much for some time yet. Get over it. Those seeds of parental confidence are starting to bloom though. Hold your ground for the next few years. Lean on Joshua’s advice – As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. [Joshua 24:15] Your house. Your rules. Your little man. Until he leaves your little nest.  You’ll cry when you leave him in that dorm room and drive away.  You won’t know what he’s doing all the time. You won’t know if he studies enough or if he eats right or if he’s kind or if he gets in trouble. You will do a lot of praying. You will trust that he’s going to get it right more often than he gets it wrong. And you will wait and give him space to grow into himself.

Dear Parent of a 30 year old son: I know what you’re probably thinking. You’re so proud of who he grew into. You aren’t exactly sure when your little man changed into the grown one. You couldn’t imagine that you could ever love him more now than that first time he opened his eyes and looked into yours. You do. Lots more. And now he has his own little man. You can watch him plant his own seeds of parental confidence and you will smile.  No need to tell him how long it is until harvest time. He’ll figure it out.