What is the greatest thing you learned from your children? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

G-Benz · #16 07-04-2006, 10:15 AM

...that nuturing a human being into this world is far more rewarding than wrenching on the endless broken crap that seems to plague every material item ever owned.

I know I have ceased on yearning for material things

...life has taught me that they all turn to crap eventually.

So now, when I limp home my W124 for a flaring tranny and broken rear shock, I just pull it in the garage, forget about it, and grab a basketball and play one-one one with my daughter instead!

BENZ-LGB · #17 07-04-2006, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carleton Hughes

I knew someone would take the bait

Hook, line and sinker...

Carleton Hughes · #18 07-04-2006, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BENZ-LGB

Hook, line and sinker...

No,no,no.....sink,line and hooker

BENZ-LGB · #19 07-04-2006, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-Benz

...that nuturing a human being into this world is far more rewarding than wrenching on the endless broken crap that seems to plague every material item ever owned.

I know I have ceased on yearning for material things

...life has taught me that they all turn to crap eventually.

So now, when I limp home my W124 for a flaring tranny and broken rear shock, I just pull it in the garage, forget about it, and grab a basketball and play one-one one with my daughter instead!

Enjoy this time with her/them.

When she becomes a teenager...and is tempted to become rebellious, as all teenager do/are, the bonds that you form with them at an early age will keep the relationship sane!

peragro · #20 07-04-2006, 02:41 PM

Ditto BOT.

Benz-lgb, we entered into the world of the teenager a mere one week ago. Already we've had the "you don't let me do anything I want to do" discussion. It's going to be a grand time for the next 7 years - I can tell already

. Then we get to go through it all over again...

t walgamuth · #21 07-04-2006, 03:02 PM

from my son when he was in high school, ten years ago.... the steve miller band album. it was good to hear something more than space cowboy.

tom w

BENZ-LGB · #22 07-04-2006, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peragro

Ditto BOT.

Benz-lgb, we entered into the world of the teenager a mere one week ago. Already we've had the "you don't let me do anything I want to do" discussion. It's going to be a grand time for the next 7 years - I can tell already

. Then we get to go through it all over again...

Welcome to my world.

A few years ago things were a bit rought between my oldest daughter and me. Mind you, this was a kid that was very close to me...we share similar interests in music, film, literature, etc.

at one point, during the height of our conflict we were arguing, pretty heatedly. she stopped in mid-sentence and said:

Look dad, for the next couple of years we won't like each other very much...you and I will fight a lot...that's just the way it is going to be...but in a few years I will get over this stage and we will be friends, just wait for me.

I was floored by both her logic and the way she expressed her thoughts.

So I backed off.

Next year she will be a senior in college, she is fisnishing a very demanding and very difficult curriculum in a very hard to get into program. she is doign great.

Now we are great friends...again. she calls me and consults me on a lot of different matters, even takes my advice.

Yesterday we all went to lunch at Paradise Cove in Malibu. It was nice to have the whole family there (except for the daughter riding horses in Colorado). It was great knocking back a few beers with my oldest daughter. She has grown into a very likeable and accomplished young woman....

You will have moments when you positively can't stand your daughter...and I am sure there will be plenty of times when she can't stand you. But love conquers all and things do get better in the long run....

Happy Fourth!

t walgamuth · #23 07-04-2006, 04:26 PM

your daughter is very perceptive.

i had this talk with all my kids except my oldest. i wasnt bright enough yet when she reached the teen years.

the gist: you now feel like an adult, physically and emotionally and mentally. but in our society you are still dependant and will be til you get out of college. so all your emotions are screaming "i gotta get out of the nest" but practicality necessitates you staying in and working with us til you can make it on your own. the trick is for us to make it through the next few years without doing any permanent damage to our relationship.

all but one are out of the nest now. married with children. the youngest is going off to college next year.

now the trick is for mom and i to make it without damaging each other.

the empty nest thing looks like a double edged sword.

tom w

peragro · #24 07-04-2006, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

now the trick is for mom and i to make it without damaging each other.

the empty nest thing looks like a double edged sword.

tom w

Maybe you could buy each of you an old mercedes and each could work on it....

Just a suggestion; I've got a while to go before the empty nest thing kicks in. No way have I thought that far ahead...

t walgamuth · #25 07-04-2006, 05:08 PM

thanks for the suggestion. but as she is right now watching "the mummy" while i am here, you can see our taste in diversion doesnt always cooincide.

it is amazing that we can even find a consensus movie to watch...ever.

tom w

rickg · #26 07-05-2006, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

now the trick is for mom and i to make it without damaging each other.

the empty nest thing looks like a double edged sword.

tom w

We're enjoying the hell out of this whole "empty nest" thing.

Raising kids was, for me at least, one of those "glad I did it, but glad it's over" things.

What did I learn? Hmmm.....
I think I learned more about myself than I ever would have without them. I remember a friend I had some 15 years ago saying he didn't want kids because he wasn't mature enough(he was in his early 40's at the time). I told him "THAT'S what'll make you mature, raising kids!!"

Kuan · #27 07-05-2006, 07:59 AM

That there really is a center of the universe, and it's right here at home.

t walgamuth · #28 07-05-2006, 08:32 AM

yep.

all other activities take second place to raising kids.

tom w