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Posted: 4/6/2002 7:03:01 PM EDT
I just got finished watching the movie "Artificial Intellegence" and the basic idea behind the story is that the boy in th e movie is looking to become real so his adoptive mother in the story will love him.
Well this got me thinking about the whole concept of parents and the love for that develops with there kids. While this is going on I was sitting there looking at my kids scattered about the living room asleep and I couldn't help but get this feeling of emptiness inside me. I allowed myself to think about them getting older. For some reason the idea of them growing older and knowing that they will never be the way that I know them now, just seems to bug me. [blue] My question is, do any of you understand what I am talking about?[blue] Sorry for this sappy post. I know how much you guys like talking about everything going on in Israel. [:D] Edited to add this picture since this captures one of those moments in time. [img]http://www.ar15.com/members/albums/VA%2Dgunnut%2F23h92045%2Ejpg[/img] |
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YES I DO!!
My ex has custody of both of mine. I get to see them about twice a year. We make the most it when i get them but it's not easy. It's like they are different kids each time i see them. They growup fast and i hate not getting to be a big part of that. mike |
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I know what yo umean. My daughter is 3 1/2 now, and I so miss the little infant she used to be.
I have a pic of her from when she was 2, and I was holding her that I sometimes use as my DT pic, and another one of her wearing my cammie blouse and cover. They grow up fast. My wife and daughter are up in Chi town while I get ready to get out of the USMC. Boy do I miss them.... |
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I can see where you're coming from.... but you grow and change along with your kids. I have one child, a boy who will be 15 in 3 weeks. I was just watching a video I took of him when he was 9 months old. He is not the same kid, but again, he is the same. Even though he is now tall as me and 190 pounds.
You can't imagine your kids older, but somehow it just happens. Relax. You will all grow together in this. Seems strange, but it all works out. |
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They grow up fast. Enjoy them while you can. Make an investment of your time and teach them right from wrong. This will pay huge dividends in their lives and enrich yours.
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nothing sappy about your post.. definitely no apology needed.
can certainly relate to what you feel. My children (2) are junior and freshman in college now. Their mother and I divorced when they were 7 & 5 years old. Fortunately, my ex and I maintained a good relationship, continued to do things "together" with the kids, and all went very well; all things considered. As stated by others, they grow up fast, but every new moment becomes as special as the past. ditto to investing all time possible with them. The rewards are continual and never ending. We are blessed by our children, and the paternal pride is unmatched by anything else in life. Good Luck and Enjoy! Bravo5-2 Salute to All the AR15.com Parents [beer] |
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If you knew how much fun grandkids are, you'd have them first.[:D]
Fred |
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Yes I do know what you are talking about. And I am determined that my kids will grow up with an intact family, unlike my own.
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I hear ya VA-gunnut!
My 15yr.old boy and 13yr. old girl are now more intelligent/wiser than me. It gets worse when their friends are around. My ten yr.old boy is still pretty tight with the old man. Payback's a bitch. I remember how I treated my parents when I was coming up. |
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Quoted: YES I DO!! My ex has custody of both of mine. I get to see them about twice a year. We make the most it when i get them but it's not easy. It's like they are different kids each time i see them. They growup fast and i hate not getting to be a big part of that. mike View Quote Sorry to hear that Mike, I couldn't imagine being in that position. I have been lucky and I am fortunate to have custody of my kids. I am glad to hear you make the best of it when you can. Just remember to tell them you love them whenever possible that is always the most important thing. |
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I know what you're talkking about, but look at it this way: Part of the whole process of parenting is making sure that they grow up to be functional, useful adults. The best thing about them gorwing up is finding out that you did a good job.
I wouldn't trade one second of time that I have spent with my childeren. We are very close, and always have been. Oddly enough though, I also enjoy seeing them grow and grown. My daughter is getting ready to drive, so that's yet another adventure in learning that we will go through together. I greatly enjoyed them as small ones, but I also enjoy them as bigger ones. Above all we stay a family and work as one. I wouldn't want to miss any of the time I spent with them in the past, but I certainly don't want to miss any of the time I'm going to spend with them in the future. Besides, they'll have grandchilderen that I can play with later. Ross |
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I know exactly what you mean. My son is all I have and all I can do is try to be a good father while he still needs me. He is 8 now, and just went on vacation in Texas with his grandmother... I'm blabbing...
Yeah, I know what you mean - sappy or not. |
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Not sappy at all.
My youngest (girl) is almost 17 and I'm afraid the day is coming that I'm going to have to kill some teenage SOB for touching my little girl! ( j/k [:)] ) My eldest (son) is in the Navy. Stationed in Pensacola, FL. It's amazing how he grew from the day he left for "Great Lakes" and his "Pass-in-review". The wife and I, divorced in the early 90's and in all those years since, I've missed only 3 or 4 weekends with them. Take every moment you can to enjoy them and play games with them. There is nothing I miss more than the sound of their laughter. |
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I know exactly what you mean VA. My children are 10 and 6 and it seems like last week they were in diapers. I worry more about them getting caught up with the wrong crowd then anything. I keep telling myself..all I can do is love them with all my heart,teach them what I know and give them the freedom to decide for themselves.
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Quoted: There is nothing I miss more than the sound of their laughter. View Quote Mine are still young enough that I get to enjoy that, but I know exactly what you are saying when it comes to the sound of little kids laughing and I know I will miss that when the time comes. Originally Posted By:AR308and223 My youngest (girl) is almost 17 and I'm afraid the day is coming that I'm going to have to kill some teenage SOB for touching my little girl! ( j/k ) View Quote Tell me about it, I have two daughters. Originally Posted By: Striker I worry more about them getting caught up with the wrong crowd then anything View Quote I think everyone worries about that. I think you have a good handle on it though. |
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Mine's a year and a half, and seems to grow by the day. Part of you wants them to stay little forever, but you get to exerience the wonder and joy of watching them learn & develop. I'm a hard-ass SOB, but when she says "da da", I know I'm already wrapped around her pudgy little finger.
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I have a two-year old son. He'll probably be our only child. I certainly do feel a bit of angst at the thought of him growing up. Nothing sappy about that. He is everything to us. I have so many fears of what he'll have to put up with in this world as he grows up. It's NOTHING like the world I grew up in. I can only hope he leads a charmed life. We do what we can to instill kindess, curiosity and self-confidence in him now, and hope to steer him towards discerning right from wrong as he grows. I hope I'm not hijacking this thread but I do have a question for those with an "only child": What are the best things we parents can do for our son to "compensate" for him not having siblings? (due to medical conditions, we won't have another) |
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I know there will come a day when my now-five-year-old son won't want to hug dad anymore, or hang around with him...and yeah, it chokes me up when I think about it.
Enjoy them while you can... [img]http://album.gunsnet.net/data/rikwriter/full_79_p654.jpg[/img] |
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Quoted: What are the best things we parents can do for our son to "compensate" for him not having siblings? (due to medical conditions, we won't have another) View Quote Any cousins nearby? Family friends with kids near the same age? Setting up some extended times to watch their children or just let the kids play while you visit may help. If you really want another child, there is always adoption. If you consider adoption, feel free to email me. |
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I NEVER understood my Mom when she said "You never stop worrying about your children" Until I had two of my own. My oldest is 9 and my youngest is 2... two girls. And NO this was not a sappy post. Just remember to say "I Love You" to them EVERY chance you get.
[b]By the way you know why Grandparents and Grandkids get along so well? They share a common enemy.[/b] |
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Quoted: If you knew how much fun grandkids are, you'd have them first.[:D] View Quote Hah! How true. [:)] You younger guys need to remember that you are raising those kids so you can have grandchildren. So do it right. |
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Growing fast is an understatement. I look at my two now, and cant beleive it. This pic was like 8 months ago or so and they are much bigger now. I'd drag my rotting corpse from the grave to protect them though.
[img]http://glen.dodgedakotas.com/john/Both.jpg[/img] |
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My one and only child, Lorelei, turned 31 last week. Since her birthday fell on a weekday, I wound up taking her out on her birthday with just the two of us. Even her daughter, Kristin, was over at her other Grandmother's spending the night.
So it was just Lorelei and me, and we had a great time together. I am 19 years older than her, and I've always told her that 'one day, God willing, I will be 99 and you will be 80, and I will still be worrying about where you are, what you're doing, and if you're safe.' Pardon me, now, while I post the word to a Ray Boltz song that strikes me as [u]the[/u] song I would always want my children and grandchildren to know. It's called - [size=3]Always Be A Child[/size=3] I was there when you drew the breath of life And I could hear your voice The first time that you cried And though you couldn't see Me I was very near And there's something now That I want you to hear Chorus: You will always be a child in my eyes And when you need some love My arms are open wide And even when you're growing old I hope you realize You will always be a child in my eyes I was there the first time that you prayed And I heard all the promises you made And when you fell before Me Crying 'Father I have sinned' I picked you up And held you close again. (Chorus) Of course, the song is referring to God being the Father of each of us, but you gotta remember that He's a Father, too! And He has surely shown us how we are to love. Eric The( |
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Eric, I have always red your posts in the past about your daughter and have been impressed that you keep such a close relationship with her. I think we can all just hope to achieve the same kind of success in the end.
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In many ways I look forward to Lil' Ops growing up. Now that he is 7 and more or less self-propelled, I see the effect of peer group and wonder how to counter it (even though it's a Christian school.) He has lost the self-confidence he used to have around adult men. This too will pass, and he still knows how to rappel, shoot, and handle himself in the woods. In many ways i wish he would remain a little boy forever, but in more I truly look forward to his maturation.
He has wanted to fly for the Navy/Marines since a toddler. I hope he retains this as he grows. Besides, what would pop Dad's buttons more than an F-22 (or whatever) buzzing the house with a snap roll at Mach .99? Thank God for His gifts, children are indeed such.... |
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That feeling is but one of the inevitable realities we all face in Life.
The positive side of it is that you are fortunate enough to be a parent and share that feeling with other parents. I know when I see my two Little Princesses growing and learning and changing, I get the same feeling you had. They are little innocent angels when they sleep, too. Aren't they? Be thankful you're a parent and can experience the joy of helping them grow into Life. Wow, now I feel sappy. |
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[Pardon me, now, while I post the word to a Ray Boltz song that strikes me as [u]the[/u] song I would always want my children and grandchildren to know. It's called -
[size=3]Always Be A Child[/size=3] I was there when you drew the breath of life And I could hear your voice The first time that you cried And though you couldn't see Me I was very near And there's something now That I want you to hear Chorus: You will always be a child in my eyes And when you need some love My arms are open wide And even when you're growing old I hope you realize You will always be a child in my eyes I was there the first time that you prayed And I heard all the promises you made And when you fell before Me Crying 'Father I have sinned' I picked you up And held you close again. (Chorus) Of course, the song is referring to God being the Father of each of us, but you gotta remember that He's a Father, too! And He has surely shown us how we are to love. Eric The( Hey Eric one I think is appropriate is "A Love with out end amen" and for the life of me I can not remember who the artist is. |
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I never planned on being a father...
However I am one ... of 2 girls ... the oldest I was never around much... and the youngest, well, her mother and I divorced for some reason (suffice it to say that I was not the one that wanted the divorce and did not understand her reasoning)and I have only had visitation with her since she was 20 months (now she is just a month over 15 yrs)... We have spent many summers.. many weekends... together... I have spent many hours on the road between SLC, UT and Idaho Falls, ID driving on friday afternoon to bring her here and on sunday afternoon to take her home over the last 13 years ... I have averaged 160,000 miles on 3 vehicles over that time ( so almost 500,000 miles so far...) Much time while driving was spent thinking ... and even though I might have been happier had it now turned out this way, I have had some of the most memorable experiences being a father... She will grow older ... I will grow older... but we will still remember the words that we tell each other when I lay her down to sleep "Daddy loves Dede" and she responds "Dede loves Daddy" ... Thanks for letting me tell this guys... tears are welling up now ... making it hard to see either the keyboard or the monitor ... I am glad I was able to be blessed to be a father... Ted... |
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Well its nice to see that there are others that understand what I was trying to say. I agree that I feel blessed to have my kids and would never change any of it.
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Well VA. You look like a lucky man with a quiver like that.
I'm still lookin' for a chick to marry that WON'T think of divorce........to complicate things with children down the road. [peep] |
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Quoted: They are little innocent angels when they sleep, too. Aren't they? View Quote It has to be the most peacful and relaxing sight in the world. |
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Quoted: Quoted: They are little innocent angels when they sleep, too. Aren't they? View Quote It has to be the most peacful and relaxing sight in the world. View Quote I have to agree with that statement. I had quite a difficult time after my wife had left us to go be with the fellow that "would make her happy", even though the nights were the toughest times, it was the sight of my kids sleeping that kept me strong through it all. |
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Quoted: Well VA. You look like a lucky man with a quiver like that. I'm still lookin' for a chick to marry that WON'T think of divorce........to complicate things with children down the road. [peep] View Quote Thankyou very much and good luck on your search. |
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