Someone at a place where I participate posted that as a response to part of a thread on the joys of parenting. This is my response to her:
"Having a child has complemented my life. It has complicated my life. It has made it interesting, joyful, painful, hopeful, sorrowful. It has led to new discoveries and old memories. It has taught me patience, sympathy, empathy, anger, fear, tolerance. Having a child has done many things, but it has never been justification for my life. The sum total of me is much more than parent."
I'm never sure if I should be happy or sad that someone defines themselves as / through a single aspect of their lives. By the same token, I'm never sure there isn't something wrong with me because I don't. Are they the 'normal' ones, or am I?
1 comment:
I realize that I have no children of my own so this may not mean as much but I agree with you totally.
I have seen people who define themselves by either their children or their jobs or their spouses and NONE of them are happy.
I firmly believe you are happier because you are so diverse in your interests and therefore in your definition of who you are - one crazy broad.
OOPS - that's my definition of you - sorry the secret is out.
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