Vee’s Inspiration September 14, 2023
Thursday September 14, 2023
I had a conversation with my son yesterday. The entire conversation was great. I marveled at how mature and reasonable he sounded and how down-to-earth and practical he sounded, but the most moving part was when I apologized to him for being so hard on him when he was growing up. I always told him I was harder on him because he was going to be a man one day, and eventually, he might decide to have a family. Being the head of or “co-head” of a family these days requires a certain tenacity, stubbornness, and resilience that is forged over time and starts when we are young. And even if he decided not to have a family, he would still be a man, a black man.
At some point later in the conversation, he pivoted and said, “Dad you don’t have to apologize for being the way you were. You were just what I needed. I did not realize it when I was growing up, but I understand it now that I have a son and a family, I get it. Life is tough, you were just preparing me to be able to navigate it and be successful. You didn’t play around with us like we were your friends because we weren’t, we are your children and you did the Dad job well.”
It hits differently when one or all of your children start to “GET IT”. That makes all the sacrifices and hard work worth it.
Thank you, son! Your words of appreciation allow me to put some of my Dad’s words of appreciation into a better context. Watching your son develop through the many stages of life and then seeing and hearing him become “aware” is special and humbling event. Son, I appreciate you and I’m thankful for you.
Have a great Thursday!
Stay safe!