Even If It Hurts.

I heard this today:

A son is a son until he takes a wife.
A daughter is a daughter all of your life.

It's A Wrap.

It has always been my opinion that a parent's responsibility is to raise their children, guiding them to grow into respectful and responsible adults.  It is not their responsibility to be their friend.  A parent can be friendly to their kids, share confidences and experiences like friends do - but to be their best friend is a different role.  A role that should be reserved for a peer.  The reason I feel this way is fairly simple - parents need to maintain an upper hand in a parent/child relationship.  Someone has to be in charge and that someone should be the parent.
Teach, guide, provide, love, inspire, share, tutor.  And so much more.


Very recently I have discovered that my theory on parenthood is not a life long one.  At some point, the role of a parent changes.  It simply becomes a title and nothing more.  When kids grow into responsible and respectable adults, your mission is complete.  I don't know why this self discovery took me so much by surprise.  But it has.  In a heartbreaking, sad sort of way.  


What happens next? 


Perhaps you will become friends.  Perhaps not.  
Perhaps they will still want your help and guidance.  Perhaps not.
Perhaps they will value your opinion.  Perhaps not.
Perhaps you will simply be another friend on their facebook page.  Perhaps not.
Perhaps they will want you to remain a fixture in their lives.  Perhaps not.
Perhaps they will call just to say hello and tell you about their day.  Perhaps not.


I love my kids very much.  I am proud of both of them.  They have both grown into strong, well respected, responsible and successful adults and parents.  I would like to credit at least part of that success on how they were raised.  I would like some of the recognition on how they got where they are.  I would like to think it is because I took my role as a parent very seriously.


But,


That stint is over.


Now, 


I am just a title.  


Mom.