Parenting- A Series of Imperfect Actions

One day not long ago around the 1990’s when people couldn’t afford vehicles and passing examinations were important for all divisions to reach the next class. and when children still suffered from measles and chickenpox, I remember my father carrying me to my school to answer my exams.

I remember wondering why is he carrying me on his arms. to the school premises?

I was 7 year old and in class One now, a big girl. A big sister to my younger siblings 5 and 3 years old. why is he carrying me all the way?

We usually walked hand in hand and I remember swinging them to match my footsteps. and i knew for sure , if only my father allowed me and being the big girl I was I could run across the busy street to reach the school all by myself.

His hand must be hurting surely. I asked Daddy to put me down I can walk I must be too heavy for you. No dear he said and carried on.

I thought I had a fever so many times and I know how to handle it myself. but this time there were funny-looking boils all over my arms. they were glistening and released a small amount of fluid when squeezed. it was like a game I was happy to play. Mommy said they were on my back too.

But still, that doesn’t mean I should make Daddy carry me all the way. his hand could hurt then how would he be able to care for all of us? Actually, it was my fault as I did not want to miss my exams. Daddy wanted me to stay home but I insisted that I have to answer my exam or else the teacher would fail me.

So I told him again, Daddy put me down, I want to walk. looking at me tenderly he said, “No dear I will drop you in class and wait till you finish your paper. After that we need to go to the doctor to get your fever and rash checked out”.

I remember sitting in a secluded room far away from my friends who were busy writing—feeling sad and lonely. I wrote my paper and finished it with a satisfactory smile on my face. As I had finished before the time I was the first to leave and sure enough Daddy was waiting right there to carry me back.

Looking at this incident now, all these years later I realize that the love of a parent is uncompromising, and a child in her innocence or arrogance can never fathom its depth.

Today as a parent I realize parenting is not a single decision and neither is it perfect. It is just a series of decisions sometimes good, sometimes bad, and sometimes Unpredictable but the choices are based on the betterment of the child, to provide better opportunities and create better childhoods one decision at a time. Not waiting for perfection, but taking imperfect actions with a one-pointed goal, to provide the best for the children.

What are your thoughts? Do put them in the comments below. I would love to read them.

Categories creative writing, fatherhood, father's day, father, motherhood, parenting, parenting, child care

Tags ##amwriting ##WritingCommmunity, #creativewriting #inspiration, #fathers #fatherhood #fathersday, #children, #motherhood, #parenthood, #parenting, #parents