My parents brought their junk drawer with them when they moved. Not like dumped the contents in a box and then relocated the contents into a new drawer at the new house. No, they actually removed the drawer and it’s contents, moved it without upending any of the contents and it is now relocated on a shelf in their new house. And they did this not to be ironic or chic, they did this so that we knew where everything was. Thanks Mom and Dad!
I grew up in a chaos that was actually organized in my parents’ minds. They deliberately lacked in rules and boundaries, but made huge sacrifices to surround us by families that overflowed with structure. They allowed us to be ourselves, eat junk food if we could find it, ride our bicycles with abandon, and to have fun. I think this is one of the main reasons that my faith carries me through. I had a warehouse of happy memories, an entire drawer and dresser full of joy all stored up, so when the day came that the shit hit the fan, I was ready. I could push some junk aside and find what I needed.
Now that TJ is in heaven, a lot of people are saying to us that we are so lucky that we have Kendall; she gives us a reason to live. Yes, of course that is true. But, my parents didn’t “allow” me to play in an abandoned house, to ride a tandem bike barefoot with no helmet, or to try out three colleges so that I could find a reason to live. They did that so that I’d know how to live. And I am living on, sometimes with abandon, so that Kendall knows how to live.
Thank you Mom and Dad for giving me the space to learn; for letting us paint the walls, kiss some boys, and skinny dip. All those times that you let me figure it out for myself, find my way home, and many times even lose the game or fail the test gave me the wherewithal to live a full life, not for my children, but with them.
Thanks for that.
I love you little guy! Let your faith be bigger than your fears.
I grew up in a chaos that was actually organized in my parents’ minds. They deliberately lacked in rules and boundaries, but made huge sacrifices to surround us by families that overflowed with structure. They allowed us to be ourselves, eat junk food if we could find it, ride our bicycles with abandon, and to have fun. I think this is one of the main reasons that my faith carries me through. I had a warehouse of happy memories, an entire drawer and dresser full of joy all stored up, so when the day came that the shit hit the fan, I was ready. I could push some junk aside and find what I needed.
Now that TJ is in heaven, a lot of people are saying to us that we are so lucky that we have Kendall; she gives us a reason to live. Yes, of course that is true. But, my parents didn’t “allow” me to play in an abandoned house, to ride a tandem bike barefoot with no helmet, or to try out three colleges so that I could find a reason to live. They did that so that I’d know how to live. And I am living on, sometimes with abandon, so that Kendall knows how to live.
Thank you Mom and Dad for giving me the space to learn; for letting us paint the walls, kiss some boys, and skinny dip. All those times that you let me figure it out for myself, find my way home, and many times even lose the game or fail the test gave me the wherewithal to live a full life, not for my children, but with them.
Thanks for that.
I love you little guy! Let your faith be bigger than your fears.