Stepping down from the MLP (Most Loved Person) pedestal

As parents, when our children are young we are the center of their Universe. However, naturally a day comes when our little ones are little no more. We discover they have other, more important people than mom and dad they put in that center. There are friends or special ones that come before us and that is a natural thing, a part of the growing up process. It also may make our hearts go all tight at losing the important place we had in our children's life.

It may be painful, having to relinquish our Most Beloved Person place but that is also a time of opportunity to let our children live the life they chose and fill up the empty space they left with our own love. It is again a reminder that our role as parents is to love our children. Not to be loved by them. Being loved by our children comes as a natural bonus to being loving to them ourselves. To preserve the genuine affection we share  we need to be keenly aware if we aren't pulling at or manipulating them to act in ways that make us feel loved. That is sure to hurt the warm connection to our children we hold precious since it is not a loving act by itself.

Happy Holidays filled with Joy and Love to you all! And if you are sad a child has chosen to spend them with someone else and not at home embrace the sadness and give it love. Understanding your child and where they are at in life, giving them your blessing to enjoy themselves will brighten your spirit in a way having an unhappy child at home never will.