- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- dads today articles
- dads today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Running the Mile
Raising Kids with Different Personalities, Passions and Attitudes
By Charlene Torkelson
My third would come home and say nothing. So finally I would ask him, "How did you do in the mile today?" to which he would look at me as if I just asked the dumbest question in the whole world and say, "I was first, of course." He expects himself to be the best and doesn't think anything else is possible. Oh, yes, and he doesn't talk about it.
So with three different personalities, I go through life as a parent trying to cope with three very different sets of problems. As they grow and I struggle to deal with different issues for each, I begin to appreciate their differences and dread their unique weaknesses. I must deal with organizing and turning in homework with my oldest (smart but scattered), deal with injuries and emotional conflicts with self and coaches for No. 2 (the jock), and No. 3 has the teachers requesting he actually be more talkative and vocal in class. Go figure that one!
Now they are at the age when they have begun dating. No. 1 has found the perfect match – an intellectual music major. No. 2, the athlete, has found the class quarterback who totally understands practicing every day and games/meets on weekends. And No. 3 has found a girl who loves to talk and thinks nothing of calling him and making the plans. Ideal!
Is it easy being a prent? Absolutely not. It takes commitment and understanding and patience and love and lots of days of crying over things that will be meaningless next week. It is also quite rewarding to help these children find their passions in life and open the doors that allow them to pursuit those loves.
