This was sent to me by a friend,

So I thought I would share it with all the wonderful parents on the board. Hope you all enjoy!

WORRY
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> Is there a magic cutoff period when offspring become accountable for
> their own actions? Is there a wonderful moment when parents can
> become detached spectators in the lives of their children and shrug,
> 'It's their life,' and feel nothing?
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> When I was in my twenties , I stood in a hospital corridor waiting
> for doctors to put a few stitches in my daughter's head. I asked,
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> 'When do you stop worrying?' The nurse said, 'When they get out of
> the accident stage.' My Dad just smiled faintly and said nothing.
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> When I was in my thirties, I sat on a little chair in a classroom and
> heard how one of my children talked incessantly, disrupted the class,
> and was headed for a career making license plates. As if to read my
> mind, a teacher said, 'Don't worry, they all go through this stage and
> then you can sit back, relax and enjoy them.' My dad just smiled
> faintly and said nothing.
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> When I was in my forties, I spent a lifetime waiting for the phone
> to ring, the cars to come home, the front door to open. A friend said,
> 'they're trying to find themselves. Don't worry, in a few years, you
> can stop worrying. They'll be adults.' My dad just smiled faintly
> and said nothing.
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> By the time I was 50 , I was sick & tired of being vulnerable. I was
> still worrying over my children, but there was a new wrinkle. There
> was nothing I could do about it. My Dad just smiled faintly and said
> nothing. I continued to anguish over their failures, be tormented by
> their frustrations and absorbed in their disappointments.
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> My friends said that when my kids got
> married I could stop worrying
> and lead my own life. I wanted to believe that, but I was haunted by
> my dad's warm smile and his occasional, 'You look pale. Are you all
> right? Call me the minute you get home. Are You depressed about
> something?'
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> Can it be that parents are sentenced to a lifetime of worry? Is
> concern for one another handed down like a torch to blaze the trail of
> human frailties and the fears of the unknown? Is concern a curse or is
> it a virtue that elevates us to the highest form of life?
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> One of my children became quite irritable recently, saying to me,
> 'Where were you? I've been calling for 3 days, and no one answered I
> was worried.' I smiled a warm smile. The torch has been passed.
>

Dee
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DammitJanet

Well-Known Member
I read this several years ago and I can/could so relate to it. I see this happening in my family so vividly. My dad did stand by and just grin as I worried over the kids. When I asked how long I had to worry over them, he would ask me...how are you doing, you dont sound well. I always wondered...why are you so worried about me...I am going through so much with my family!

Now I never get off a phone call without each of us (my dad and I) worrying about each other...how are we doing...what is the status of our health problems...are we ok? He is scared to death that he is going to lose me and I am terrified that he is going to die. The fear I saw on his face when I was in the hospital just about did me in. There is a song out that brings me to tears every time I hear it. YOU CAN LET GO

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H78uQhsZKKA"]YouTube - Crystal Shawanda - You can let Go[/ame]
 
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