03/12/2026
Random thoughts on parenthood. (by Dr H)
One day, you have a baby. You bring the baby home. It's dependent on you for everything. You worry about everything, but mostly keeping the baby alive. You are sleep deprived beyond measure. You spend sleepless nights feeding, changing, and trying to get the baby to sleep independently. The baby grows to toddler-hood. You keep trying to mold the child into a good person. You continue to worry if they will make friends, if they will grow out of their picky eating, etc. They go to school. You worry about academics and social things. You help with homework for 18+ years. You become a chauffeur. Maybe you have other kids, too. You constantly juggle your own work, marriage, school for the children, after school activities, etc. You make your own friends along the way, usually other parents. You volunteer at school. All the while, your kids are learning, growing, figuring out life, and gradually becoming less dependent on you, as it should be. But you miss, on some level, the times when you were the center of their universe. Now they have chosen families. They go to college, get jobs, move out. You see them, but way less for far shorter periods of time. You cherish that time, but miss the old times, their constant presence. I think that's what the real issue is, that last bit. You did your job well enough that they don't need you for everything anymore. And that is good, but a little sad.
Wishing all the parents of adult children happy memories that continue to be made with each other, even if things are different and weird. My best suggestion is to get a cuddly pet of some sort.
