Parenting Insights from Amy Johnson
Just last week, my 21-year-old son, Ethan, wandered into the kitchen and asked if I could assist him in making a cup of coffee. If you happen to own one of those modern Keurig machines, like I do, you know it’s quite straightforward: just open the lid, insert a K-cup filled with coffee, select your desired cup size, and hit “Brew.” It’s really that simple.
But he’s my firstborn, the one who benefited from a youthful and eager mom who would lay out his clothes each night, trim the crusts off his sandwiches, and peel his apple slices. These days, I struggle to even buy apples, let alone peel them.
I stifled a laugh when he asked for help with coffee, but as he plopped down on the couch and began scrolling through his iPhone, it dawned on me that he wasn’t seeking help in making coffee; he just wanted me to do it for him.
“Alright,” I said, “let’s walk over to the machine and open it up.” I guided him through the entire process, and before long, he was savoring a steaming cup of coffee.
Soon after, my 11-year-old son, Lucas, strolled into the kitchen and whipped up an omelet. He heated a pan, cracked an egg into a bowl, added some egg whites from the fridge, sprayed the pan with cooking spray, and cooked his breakfast. He drenched it in hot sauce and sat down to enjoy his meal while watching cartoons, sipping hot chocolate made from the Keurig.
The contrasts between my first and fourth child never cease to amaze me. It’s stunning to see how much the younger kids have thrived from the experience of their older brother. Ethan has paved the way for them, whether it was learning an instrument or navigating the college application process—he’s demonstrated how to tackle new challenges.
This morning, I dropped him off at the bus stop for a summer internship that requires business-casual attire and maturity. As he prepared his breakfast, it struck me how much he has grown; there he was, an adult standing at the counter pouring a bowl of cereal, a sight that filled me with nostalgia.
Of course, leading up to his first day at work involved some hand-holding. We shopped for appropriate clothing, purchased his monthly bus pass, and even did a trial run to scout out a nearby commuter lot for convenient parking. Reading the bus schedule posed a bit of a challenge, but, let’s face it, it was his first time doing anything like this. The younger siblings have always had the advantage of learning from Ethan’s experiences.
Watching him walk away from my car this morning towards the crowd waiting for the bus stirred conflicting emotions in me. I wanted to jump out and ensure he boarded the right bus, but I held back, driving away while observing his new jacket disappear from my view.
Later, he texted me to let me know he was on the bus, accompanied by a thumbs-up emoji. “Thanks for the ride and everything else, Mom,” he wrote, adding heart emojis. It was clear he meant it. Despite our occasional disagreements, he knows I am always in his corner.
Navigating the line between being a helicopter parent and lending a helping hand is tricky. I hope I’m striking the right balance. By the time Lucas is ready to face the world in ten years, I anticipate there will be less guidance necessary, as he’ll have learned from the experiences of his older siblings.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. After this morning, I’m grateful to still have my little boy around, the one who wraps his arms around me for no reason, belts out Maroon 5 tunes in the shower, and sometimes forgets to use shampoo. Time flies, and in a blink, you transition from handing your child a Gatorade to a commuter mug. People often say this, and when you’re in the thick of carpooling and chicken nuggets, it feels endless until, suddenly, it’s not, and you think, “What just happened?”
What I do know is that I’m looking forward to picking him up from the bus later and hearing about his day over dinner to celebrate this milestone. Although he’s traded his skater gear for khakis and a dress shirt, he will always be my baby.
For more insights on parenting and children’s education, check out this resource, which offers expert guidance on these topics. Additionally, if you’re exploring options for pregnancy, WebMD is an excellent resource.
In conclusion, while the journey of parenting has its challenges, the moments that remind us of our children’s growth and independence bring joy and pride.