[child] She just keeps growing up

[jaylake]

Comments

[dionysus1999]

Research studies have shown that people without children are consistently ranked as happier than people with children.

However, I think the pride and amazement that children can bring into their parent's lives certainly makes up for it. Children also have the ability to help us find new perspective.

Forget the Army, being a parent is the toughest job you'll ever love.

[adelheid_p]

I think the best answer is that often the child finds someone or several someones (or someone steps up) to take the place of the missing parent. Sometimes it's a good friend's mom. Sometimes it's a teacher or guidance counselor or some other adult in the child's life/community. None of these are complete replacements for the special bond that happens between parents and the newborn baby but children are resourceful and resilient.

I know this is a tough conversation for you to have with your daughter.

[scarlettina]

Sometimes it's no one at all but the child herself. I speak from experience. But sometimes, in those cases, the child in question has been provided with all the tools she needs. I suspect that, in the case of the_child this is most assuredly the case. And you know? It's clear she's not going to be a child for very much longer at all. Which is a lovely thing to see.

[adelheid_p]

Indeed, this is somewhat true in my case as well, but I can say that I have had a few people, I've cultivated to fill the spaces I could not fill myself. I agree that the_child is growing up very nicely and exhibiting a wisdom beyond her years that will server her quite well. Every post about her is a leap!

[fledgist]

That has to be one of the most difficult conversations a parent can have with a child. Certainly far more difficult than the one about sex. It seems to me that she has been brought up right.

[markbourne]

B. has always struck me as rather remarkable. She's at an age of head-snappingly swift transformations. Just brace yourself for further proud-papa moments as she reveals more of who she's becoming.

A small pleasure in living distant from my friends with children occurs when I travel and get to see those children who *aren't* quite so childrenish as the last time I visited them. Especially in the case of an old college buddy whose kids are now entering high school, I get to watch the babies grow by sudden and startling leaps into toddlers and then conversant, personality-filled school-age, then teens (with all that's attendant to the age), and ultimately mature adulthood (with all that's attendant to *that* age). It's a revealing and occasionally sobering form of time travel.

[joycemocha]

You are doing an amazing job with your child. And she is very bright and perceptive. Not surprising that she is becoming mature and reflective. Doesn't always stick during the synaptic pruning of adolescence, but hey, it comes back later. The fact that you see it now is incredible and good.