Back to School, Pull the Weeds

This is the season where ‘back to school’ signs can be seen everywhere, reminding us that it is time to prepare. Parents are out searching for just the right school supplies, clothes, back packs, stocking lunch and snack items and scheduling carpools. These days and rituals become a big part of our lives as we provide and take care of our children’s needs and growth.

My daughter is going back to her third year of college and that back to school sign has a whole new meaning for me. It is my time to go back to school. It seemed just like yesterday, but it was 21 years ago when

a seed was planted in my garden and she was born, bringing a new meaning of love and life to me.

Our parent/child relationship has grown in many directions and has collected a lot of weeds along the way. We must pull those weeds to continue our growth. What I know for sure is, I have always gardened and fertilized with love, yet some weeds have been resilient to my attention and care. My intent is to have our relationship blossom into a beautiful assortment of love, openness, ideas, discussions, respect, laughter, fun and just spending quality time together. I want to grow a new relationship that is based around acceptance and honoring the unique gifts that we can share and learn from each other; pulling out the old parent/child relationship and planting and growing a relationship of two women, old and young, loving, and supporting one another… without the weeds.

For me, it’s time to go back to school and honor a new style of parenting. If we can love being a student of life and grow positively with each new experience, our relationships has the opportunity to blossom beautifully and reach new heights.