Fwd: [fibrochatter] Fw: WORRY

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----- Subject: FW: WORRY> >>> Truer words were never spoken.................>>>>>> WORRY>>>>>> Is there a magic cutoff period when>>> offspring become accountable for their own>>> actions? Is there a wonderful moment when>>> parents can become detached spectators in>>> the lives of their children and shrug, "It's>>> their life," and feel nothing?>>>>>> When I was in my twenties, I stood in a hospital>>> corridor waiting for doctors to put a few>>> stitches in my son's head. I

asked, "When do>>> you stop worrying?" The nurse said,>>> "When they get out of the accident stage." My>>> mother just smiled faintly and said nothing.>>>>>> When I was in my thirties, I sat on a little>>> chair in a classroom and heard how one of my>>> children talked incessantly, disrupted the class,>>> and was headed for a career making>>> license plates. As if to read my mind, a teacher>>> said, "Don't worry, they all go through>>> this stage and then you can sit back, relax and>>> enjoy them." My mother just smiled>>> faintly and said nothing.>>>>>> When I was in my forties, I spent a lifetime>>> waiting for the phone to ring, the cars to come>>> home, the front door to open. A friend said,>>> "They're trying to find themselves.

Don't>>> worry, in a few years, you can stop worrying.>>> They'll be adults." My mother just smiled>>> faintly and said nothing.>>>>>> By the time I was 50, I was sick & tired of being>>> vulnerable. I was still worrying over my>>> children, but there was a new wrinkle. There>>> was nothing I could do about it. My>>> mother just smiled faintly and said nothing. I>>> continued to anguish over their failures, be>>> tormented by their frustrations and absorbed in>>> their disappointments.>>>>>> My friends said that when my kids got married I>>> could stop worrying and lead my own>>> life. I wanted to believe that, but I was>>> haunted by my mother's warm smile and her>>> occasional, "You look pale. Are you all right?>>> Call me

the minute you get home. Are>>> you depressed about something?">>>>>> Can it be that parents are sentenced to a>>> lifetime of worry? Is concern for one another>>> handed down like a torch to blaze the trail of>>> human frailties and the fears o f the>>> unknown? Is concern a curse or is it a virtue>>> that elevates us to the highest form of life?>>>>>> One of my children became quite irritable>>> recently, saying to me, "Where were you? I've>>> been calling for 3 days, and no one answered!>>> I was worried." I smiled a warm smile.>>> The torch has been passed.>>>>>>>>> PASS IT ON TO OTHER PARENTS>>>>>>>>> (and also to your children. That's the fun part.)>>>>>>>>>>

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