Our Two Youngest, Husband and I watched kindergarten videos featuring our children after supper for the better part of an hour. Myself, I had a hard time keeping dry eyes, and not just for the frames my kiddos were featured in. The music, the baby faces, those chubby little cheeks. Ah…when I think of kindergarten, I think of the joy and innocence and pure pleasure children appear to exude at this age. They are so pure. So free to BE. Teaching kindergarten keeps me connected with the mystery of wonder.

Later on, Husband and I went for a walk during which I discussed/complained about something hard I was going through- something I was being less than understanding about as it concerned the Other involved. But it wasn’t until much later that things beyond what I ever expected- “hit the fan”. Leaving me longing for the innocence of five years old again.

Which is to say: we are navigating difficult waters tonight. Trying to figure things out, keep our heads above the surface. Life is challenging when you involve people. And people are both the reason for our joy and the cause of our sorrow.  May we never forget that it works both ways and often simultaneously.

As parents, we are learning that our teenagers have lives apart from ours. This is a big thing. A very big thing. And as parents, we are also learning that we need to have some bird’s eye views/front-door access to these lives so as to be able to really KNOW our kids, just as we knew them when they were younger. Technology also complicates the ‘knowing’ part because being a kid/teen means making choices. And making choices for oneself can be a learning curve. A learning curve that involves other people with thoughts, feelings, connections and ideas. This is both the joy and the frustration of growth and development.

It sometimes makes life hard.  And tricky.

But as adults, we are not off the hook. We are still learning that we don’t have all the answers. Neither are we always perfect. And sometimes it is our own willingness to admit failure that allows our children to see that to err is to be human. And to admit wrongdoing is to keep the door open for change and growth.

We can do hard things- all of us. Kindergartners, teens and adults.

And although life can sometimes look simpler when viewed retrospectively, it is full of potential and possibility when viewed with a forward-angled perspective. And the Great Grace that covers the multitude of mistakes made gives us hope for tomorrow. Gives us eagerness to wait for tomorrow for a fresh, new start.

Here’s to new beginnings and here’s to tomorrow…because we all need a do-over once in a while.