Following my footsteps

Linda Adams
Jul 24, 2017 · 2 min read

Yesterday I wrote of learning to be selfish to be good to me. Fair, if you will. Taking charge of what I believe I deserve and not just what works best for someone else.

This ties into noticing the changes that have occurred as a result. I haven’t felt inclined to respond to a text to avoid being rude, I didn’t feel guilty about having a drink by myself after work the other night and I didn’t feel bad about not agreeing with something someone said recently. It’s my way of coming into my own and being true to myself, of course, without being disrespectful.

I really feel like I’m finally growing up. Odd as it may sound considering I am a mom to two teenagers. But even adults have to grow up too and realizing that I make mistakes sometimes is okay, as long as I learn from them and own up to it: this means saying sorry, even if the apology is owed to your own kids.

I used to wonder why my parents never apologized for doing something wrong and I swore I’d never be like them. So most recently I’ve owned up to my wrongdoings with my kids and I feel real good about that. I’ve learned that saying sorry doesn’t mean I’m not the perfect parent, it just means I’m human.

I want my kids to learn, more than anything, that’s no one is perfect and we are constantly learning. If I choose to walk in my own footsteps and do this or that, then being responsible for my actions falls on me. I feel good about taking charge of my feelings and not being afraid to be one hundred percent me. I choose the footsteps I make and I fill them in. That way in the end, I only have myself to blame if I don’t approve of the path I’ve chosen. And if I don’t, I walk down another road that’s a reminder of the lessons learned.

Growing up doesn’t get easier as you get older, but the feelings of determination is gratifying as you put your foot ahead of the other and you know deep down inside you own that choice.

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