being a parent
As you all know who have been reading my ramblings, I have a beautiful daughter, 17 years old named Julie who is a senior and is very busy with the graduation and dance and all the other stuff that seniors deal with the last quarter of their senior year. I also have a son named John who is the crew member on my boat and helps me put it together and does all the hard work on rigging the mast etc. As a matter of fact without him I would not be able to sail the dang thing. He has a twin brother named Aaron who lives in Pa. and is the father to my sweet one year old grand daughter named Madylin and married to a very sweet girl, Rhonda. I have two other sons, Carol and I were a little slow to catch on here. One is named Garrson and he and Kristi have two children, Kennedy who is a lovely 14 year old gymnast and she is the sweetest thing and her brother and my only grandson, Bristol a charming and very smart young man who to is sweet beyond description. His dad my oldest son is 40 which makes me feel quite old. Well there is one more son, his name is Jeremy and he has lived in China for the last five years, but about five months ago he transferred to Albuquerque, he called this morning about 7AM from the emergency room at a hospital and was one very sick man. He had something like strep throat and had become dehydrated. They put him on an IV and started him on medicine and a steroid and he is home now and doing much better, but it has been a tense day. I told him I could be there in eight hours if he needed me to come and make sure he is taking care of himself. He said he was doing much better and would make sure he got more rest and would remember to drink more water. I too have a problem with drinking water, never seem to be thirsty but I have a wife who sees to it that I take care of myself. His fiance is in China right now and will be there a couple of months before she comes home. I and his mother chided him a little for not taking care of his health. He will be here next month for Julie's graduation. Now for the conclusion of this blog. It doesn't seem to mater how old your children are, my twins are 32 and Jeremy is 34, but when one of them is sick its like when they were young and at home, it makes you sick with worry. They grow up and become successful middle aged adults but to the parents they are still the children of your heart and you worry yourself to pieces over them. But oh, I love them all so much. Thanks for letting me get this off my chest. Garry
13 Comments:
I have three boys and one daughter between the ages of 40 and 46 and I feel the same way Garry.
By honeybee4, Apr 15 09 10:30 PM
Garry, I enjoy hearing about your family, they sound absolutely wonderful. I'm glad Jeremy is on the mend now. Yes, when you are a parent, the worry never stops. I remember my grandmother still worrying about my uncle when he was in his 60's. He was the one child that lived the furthest away. My boys are 10 and 4, and I suppose my worrying has only just begun!
By Squisher, Apr 16 09 1:22 AM
And so much fun and pleasure too, I envy you for the good times you are going to have.
By garrysouders, Apr 16 09 3:44 AM
Sometimes you just have to talk about this 'parent stuff' to other parents, Garry...the fears, the pride, the never ending concern for their welfare -even if they are approaching middle age. That little ache just never quite goes away, does it?
By ktstew, Apr 16 09 1:50 PM
Garry, they say that by the time you are really 'thirsty' you have waited too long! We must hydrate our bodies, whether we like it or not.
You just never stop worrying about the offspring, no matter how old they get. I'm glad Jeremy is better...A guzzle is a lot easier than an IV!
By veronikkamarrz, Apr 16 09 5:15 PM
I'm not a water drinker either Garry, but I like peppermint tea so I make it up that way, well Sometimes, a few times a day.
So nice to hear about your family! It's always interesting to hear what my virtual friends and their families are doing in Real World.
End of school and graduation - so Exciting, and Sad and don't you just feel as though you'll burst with Pride at being The Parent! (well One Of them...:)
I don't think being A Parent Ever Changes!
No matter how big The Kids get, whether they become parents, or how far away they are - We are Still their Mum or Dad - and we still Worry because parents like to know their 'babies' are happy healthy and safe!
By MarchHare007, Apr 16 09 7:05 PM
Being a parent is the most wonderful part of my life and I can see that is true of the rest of you. Thanks for your kind regards, this is one wonderful bunch of folks.
By garrysouders, Apr 16 09 7:26 PM
I agree with all of your blog.I have always felt sorry for the people with out children.They will never know those feelings that come with being a parent. Naturally there are some rough spots,but with love, it all works out.I have three sons and a daughter, all grown.I can't help but look back at times and picture them as they were growing up.Sounds like you have a wonderful family and you have every reason to be proud, Pat
By pattycake65, Apr 16 09 11:26 PM
Having mine was probably the best and cleverest thing I've ever done, and I can't imagine the concern wearing off just because he's reached some arbitrary age, like 75. Garry, I'm so glad your son got the help he needed, and hope he - and you - are feeling better now.
By lesley153, Apr 17 09 12:39 PM
Hmm.. my parents don't seem to care much when I'm sick or injured (but to be fair I haven't been really sick in a long time). And the last time I fell down a flight of stairs (yeah, it's happened to me a few times), my mom asked me if my glasses were okay.
By guitargoddess, Apr 18 09 12:09 PM
It sounds like you have a beautiful family! How is your son feeling now?
By bionic4ever, Apr 20 09 6:00 PM
Jeremy is doing better now and my sister who is a nurse thinks he may have had shingles in his throat.
By garrysouders, Apr 21 09 8:23 PM
Happy to hear that Jeremy is on the mend. I didn't know you could get shingles anywhere other than your outside skin, so... ouch. OUCH!
By lesley153, Apr 22 09 8:39 AM