L-O-V-E
Love Means Letting Go of Controlling Others
Also known as self-control
After weeks of successfully keeping my nose out of my adult children’s organising, I finally broke and ordered birthday decorations for their joint birthday party.
I don’t know why I did this, I had been told not to when I mentioned I was thinking of ordering decorations. My 21-year-old told me explicitly that the only help she needed from me was to clear the space so she could decorate it herself.
Her 30-old-year-old brother, with whom she was having the party informed me he was leaving decorations to his sister and nicely declined to wear a sash or a birthday hat.
But could I stop myself? Nope. As I was placing the order I thought with relish of course they’ll love all these glittery balloons and banners with 21 and 30 splayed all over. Like when they were kids?
Anyway, the decorations arrived and they both said absolutely not — so now I’ve got to return it all.
As if I haven’t got enough to do.
Why do people do this? Why did I feel it necessary to make my mark on a party that was not mine?
I can only think it’s because after nearly 40 years of parenting, I’m addicted to doing stuff for my children — so now…
