This month it all about letting go. Never an easy thing especially when it’s a loved one and a loved one who has been dependent on us and, truth be told, who we have been dependent on, as well, dependent for companionship, sense of being needed and so much more.
Once, I was volunteering as a marshal for the PGA and one of the main organizers came up to me and said – “How do you all raise children here in Pittsburgh? We LOVE having events here – the teenage volunteers are GREAT! They show up, they work hard, they do what is asked of them and take it seriously. They’re just GREAT!”
I said, “It’s not like this in the rest of the world?”
He said, “Heck no! Everywhere else, especially in California, they’re lazy, spoiled, mean, entitled, and irresponsible – nothing like here in Pittsburgh – the exact opposite, as a matter of fact.”
“Well,” I said, “I don’t have children myself but I can tell you that Pittsburghers don’t raise children, we raise adults. And parents take a great source of pride in how their children turn out and that is to be hard workers, responsible citizens and great parents themselves.”
In talking with this PGA professional, I was so incredibly proud of being a Pittsburgher and the wonderful job all the parents do in raising their children and young adults.
Do you have any advice or experiences to share? How do you cope with being an empty nester?
Please leave comments below!
