Family and Marriage
| When we said “I do,” who knew it would come along with so many relationships – husband, kids, stepkids, parents, in-laws, and other relatives? Marriage today is fraught with complex relationships and issues, and here is where we can discuss how to keep your family and your marriage strong. Family and Marriage Editor: Sara Barton |  |
Now that Fathers' Day is here, I can't help but think of my own father and the role he played in my life. His death in 1990 was utterly devastating to me and I actually had a boyfriend break up with me a month after his death because I wasn't "over it." At the time, I was crushed, but now, I can only feel pity because he obviously had no clue as to the impact a girl's relationship with her dad has on the rest of her life.
Four years ago, I got the greatest birthday present ever - my daughter. That year, my birthday was on Memorial Day and I was 31 weeks pregnant. Everyone I knew had other plans - parties, vacations, and cookouts. Hubs was working that day, which depressed me, despite his promise - "we'll celebrate on Friday, babe." Of course, I should have known that things seldom happen exactly as you plan, especially when you're in your third trimester and alternating between nesting mode and sheer exhaustion.
I firmly believe that when a father holds his baby daughter for the first time, he looks into her eyes and envisions himself camping in the backyard with her, teaching her how to catch fireflies, and taking her fishing for the first time. In his mind, she is eternally a giddy 4-year-old, twirling happily in the kitchen and asking for another juice box. To him, she will never grow up. She will always be his pampered little princess.
I know growing up the last thing I ever wanted to divulge to my parents was my yearnings for boys. An incident with my almost five-year-old recently gave me an insight as to why children/teenagers may be so reluctant to share their personal lives with their parents – especially the intimate parts.
This time of year is always tough for me. My own mother died in 2002 and never had a chance to know my husband, let alone my children, so Mother's Day is always a mixture of sadness and reverie. While I miss my mom terribly, I keep a piece of her close to me, hoping to glean at least a piece of her wisdom.
There has been so much controversy this week over Madlyn Primoff, the New York mom who, fed up with her daughters squabbling in the back seat, kicked them out of the car. Blog entries ensued, social media sites lit up like Christmas trees over Primoff's actions, and everyone with an opinions on the subject seemed to find their way to the national media to give their two cents.
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