I know they are grown up, but I still worry about my kids.
If you think that parenting ends when your children “grow up,” well, guess again. My daughter Amanda is 27, and my son Matt will be 32 in September. I find that when something upsets them, it upsets me too. When something hurts them, it hurts me at least as much, maybe more, especially if I can’t do anything to handle the problem. I want them to be happy, and when they are happy, I am happy.
And so is my wife Jane. We both know and understand that Matt and Amanda are grown up. And that at times they do not want our advice. Of course that does not stop me from giving it-hey, if I hear the story, it is simply impossible for me to keep from responding.
Matt was involved in a traffic accident last Thursday. Another driver ran a red light, and hit him in the passenger side of his almost brand new car. He had driven this car for only a month, and the crash totaled his car. The other vehicle hit Matt’s car hard enough to spin him 90 degrees. The crash bent his steering wheel, crumpled his dash, bent his gear shift, pushed in both doors, bent the roof, bent the floor, and bent his right front wheel.
The car can be replaced, and with the police accident report placing the blame on the other driver involved, I am sure it will be. Fortunately Matt suffered only some soreness, a few minor cuts from the flying glass, and a swollen left ankle. At least we are hoping that is all. The air bags deployed, and Matt may have hit his head on the passenger seat. I wonder if he had a concussion. He did not remember all of what happened, and today he complained of having a dizzy spell.
And so I worry. He did see a doctor on Saturday, but not his regular physician. Jane and I think he needs to see his regular doctor, but of course he is acting too macho to do that. So, we’ll just go to a higher power, my daughter in-law Stephanie.
You never stop worrying about your children, even when they are quite capable of handling all that life deals them. Actually, I would much rather worry about spoiling a grandchild, but for now, I’ll keep worrying about my kids, and spoil my grand-puppies.
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