I’ve been receiving Listserve emails for over a year now. After reading them, some have made me cry, some have made me laugh, some of made me think and quite frankly some I have deleted!
I often thought about what I would write to all of you. I decided a long time ago that I would write about something that could change the world. Parenting.
Why? Because I am a mum of three wonderful kids.
My parents divorced when I was very young and it’s been almost 35 years since I have had any contact with my father. I know he lives 30 minutes away and I know he has 6 grown children thanks to Facebook and social media.
I’m not looking for pity or sympathy, I simply want other parents to understand the deep and profound effect his actions had on me throughout my whole life – and continue to do so.
As a little girl, I struggled to understand his abandonment.
As an adult I realized it was his own immaturity that caused him to hate and punish my mother rather than look inwards at his own behaviour in the collapse of their marriage.
As a parent I wonder how he could ever walk away from his children and not know if they were okay. Not want to share in all the glorious things they do, see and accomplish.
I was raised by a wonderful strong-willed woman who taught me right from wrong, taught me that an education was important and taught me a strong work ethic.
The struggles of my childhood are what created the successes in my life today.
I want to keep it short as I know I am guilty of skipping over the long listserve emails.
So here it goes.
You as a parent have the ability to change the world with each child you bring in to it. Love them and teach them to be good parents.
How ironic that the listserve invitation came on Mother’s Day.
A shout out to my glorious country of Canada. True North Strong and Free!
Carmen
[email protected]
Somewhere North of Toronto, Canada