While playing with the dogs in the backyard, I turned to Thud, our 5-year-old Kelpie, and said, “Thanks to the confusion and f*ck ups that I put you through for my lack of experience, Dozer, our 4-month-old Rottweiler pup, is more obedient than you, and I thank you (Thud) for that.”
My husband, catching the humor, quipped, “I WISH MY MUM HAD TOLD ME THAT,” which had me bursting into laughter. He elaborated, “She was so strict with me as the first child. Who knows, that might have given me more courage and self-esteem.” (We love you, mumma!)
It’s truly remarkable to reach a point where we can find humor in things that previously caused us grief. I’ve seen him navigate through a journey of confronting emotions tied to guilt and shame, embracing sadness, resentment, and anger, then moving towards setting boundaries and effectively communicating them, leading us to where we stand today.
I’m eager for the future, where we’ll have the opportunity to share the lessons we’ve learned with our future children. I believe that the essence of life lies in learning and then passing on that knowledge.