Advice At a Baby Shower

I went to a baby shower this weekend for a co-worker. Most of the guests were just beginning the experience of parenting. Many of the mom's wanted my advice since I seemed to have survived 18 years and my "baby boy" was preparing to leave for college this summer. As I listened to the other women talk, I realized once again how fast it all went. It seemed like just yesterday I had my baby shower. These years that I kept watch over my baby in the nest and watched him grow, learn, change and finally take off have been very precious.

During this baby shower, all of the guests were asked to say a wish or a prayer for the baby and one for the new parents. As we went around the room, the advice was varied from "I wish for the baby to be healthy" to "I pray for the baby to know God" to "I wish for the baby to be a macho man" to "I pray for the baby to be happy and have a good life". Wishes for the parents were just as varied from "I hope you continue to make time for yourselves" to "be patient" to "I pray that you will get some sleep" to "don't try to be perfect or expect it from your child" to "breathe, relax, and let things go". All of it was good advice. However, the best advice was to "enjoy each precious moment and each stage of your child's life" because you will never get that time back.

This day reminded me just how little time we have with our children close to us. I've been blessed to have the experience of watching a beautiful baby boy grow up into a healthy, confident, talented, kind young man. My wish for me would be "to continue to take every precious minute I get being his Mom and being part of his life" and my wish for my baby boy is "to be happy and healthy and to remember how much he is loved". Ladies, parenting really can be that simple.

Linda Peterman is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in private practice in Tampa, Florida. She specializes in couples counseling, relationships, communication, parenting, domestic violence and other issues pertinent to mental health and happiness. Her website is: http://www.counselingtampa.com/contactus.html



Follow Linda Peterman's SHINE blog at http://shine.yahoo.com/blog/KXY2HTFBA7KPUPKRG4PJ7ACULY/