Friday, January 11, 2013

Parenting 101


December 6th, our sons embarked on a glorious trip Down Under with one way tickets and one year work visas.   They've been gone one month and five days and, so far, they're having the time of their lives.

This trip is the culmination of a lifetime of  them talking, hoping and finally working to save the money and go.  Growing up, we encouraged them to explore the world, get to know and understand other people and cultures, learn to cope in new situations, discover who they are and what they want to become.  In other words, we raised them to believe happiness is a goal more important than money, prestige, the accumulation of "things" and climbing the never-ending ladder. 

Success is being happy with who you are not what you have.  



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12 comments:

DJan said...

Congratulations to you and to them for their endeavor. I do hope they will be able to deal with the extreme heat the Aussies are having right now.

Brian Miller said...

nice...sounds like you done a good job with them...what a cool trip too....

Betsy Brock said...

How very cool! I hope they have a wonderful year..and how nice they are doing it together!

Ellen Fisch said...

Absolutely WONDERFUL! Hope they invite their parents along for the ride!

Megan said...

Very cool. I hope it is a rewarding experience for them!

California Girl said...

DJan, Oh my gosh we just saw a still shot of a wall of dust hundreds of feet high taken by a sailor on a boat. It's trajectory was inland Australia out to see and it is eerie.

My sons are on the east coast in a small beach town and the weather has been in the 80s.

California Girl said...

Brian, you know, when they were teenagers I felt like a failure as a mother. They were never malicious or anything but always doing stuff they should not and getting in trouble, getting bad grades, getting arrested for stupid stuff...I was either yelling or crying much of the time.
Now, I feel it has all worked out. But, it was a lonnnng time coming.

California Girl said...

Bets, they are very close, 14 mos apart. They are best friends. They are two peas in a pod with different sensibilities so they complement one another.

California Girl said...

Ellen, you've met the boys so you know what they're like. We would love to go but they will have to be settled in one place so we may plan ahead. They are loving Byron Bay!

California Girl said...

Meghan! Welcome back. Have not seen your avatar in a long time. Just went to your profile but couldn't find your blog. Did you stop writing? Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment.

ratatouille's archives said...

"In other words, we raised them to believe happiness is a goal more important than money, prestige, the accumulation of "things" and climbing the never-ending ladder.

Hi! C.G...
I think no truer words were ever spoken and the picture compliment yours and your husband, thoughts and action...
"Success is being happy with who you are not what you have."
...too!

deedee :)

California Girl said...

Dee dee, thank you. It took a long time but I'm finally content with parenting. It is one tough row to hoe.