REMEMBER WHEN

Remember when you could kiss the owie and make it all better?

One of the most powerful forces in the universe is the parent of a toddler. Whenever there is a pinched finger, a stubbed toe, or a bonked head, a parent can provide an instant cure. A simple kiss on the owie eases the pain. A little cuddling in mom or dad’s arms with blankie in hand seals the cure. Sometimes a cartoon character Band-Aid is added for that cherry on top feeling of satisfaction. Wipe a few tears away, kiss the owie and the child is ready to take on the world yet again.

As a parent, you cannot be more powerful, compassionate or wise. All in a simple act. King Solomon has nothing on the parent of a toddler.

But one day, that all ends. Somehow the days have passed and your toddler is no longer. Your child moves into adolescence and then into adulthood. Somewhere around the fourth grade your child learned that you are not invincible and all wise. You learned that you can’t cure all that ails your child.

The only problem with that passage of time is that the owies continue into adulthood. If only the adult owies were as easy to fix as the childhood owies. The adult owies are more dramatic and rarely involve a pinched finger or stubbed toe. What ails your adult child is life, adult decisions, problems and issues that hurt the ego and the psyche. As a parent you can’t fix those things. You can only listen, offer a shoulder to cry on when needed and shed a few tears with your child. You ache when your child aches.

If only the adult owies were as easy to fix as the childhood owies. If only you could kiss the owie and make it all better.