June 8, 2017: In Appreciation

Risings and Graduations--the result of another school year almost gone by. This bittersweet time of endings and beginnings moves me alternately from tears of joy to tears of sadness, and inspires me to repost my Ode to The Parent People.

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Thank you, Parent!*

Thanks for making breakfast/dinner/snack/packing my lunch/bringing the lunch you packed to school/doing my laundry/making my bed/not making my bed.

Thanks for paying for my phone/extra data/Starbucks/concert tickets/gas/car/car insurance/clothes/shoes/dress/uniform/camp/pokemon cards/lip gloss.

Thanks for making me pay for [insert above list] in part or all by myself.

Thanks for taking care of sick-me/pretend-sick-me and for letting me take a day off/sleep late/catch up.

Thanks for driving me/any/all of my friends to school/practice/the mall/the tournament/the party/home.

Thanks for sitting next to me while I learn to drive myself.

Thanks for filling out the form/signing the note/making the call.

Thanks for volunteering/not volunteering/chaperoning/not chaperoning.

Thanks for understanding/not understanding/grounding me/not grounding me/easing up/standing firm/hanging in.

Thanks for helping me grieve the loss of a person/a pet/a friendship and for celebrating the birthday/the win/the game/the grade/the effort.

Thanks for watching/laughing/crying/listening/discussing/arguing/caring/trusting me/trusting your instincts.

Thanks for taking pictures.**

HAPPY PARENT APPRECIATION WEEK 2017!

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*By parent, I mean ANY full-time caregiver whosoever, regardless of gender, generation or affiliation.

**This catalogue of thanks is very symbolic, informed generally by my own kids, and really doesn't even begin to cover it. No diaper-changing on my list, for example! So feel free to modify as needed.

Photo taken on June 6, 2012