This is a great post, Jason. My favorite part was the beer+football! Men are often better at taking time for themselves than women and in that we have a lot to learn from you as a gender (as well as from YOU). Thank you for reminding us that we all have to balance the us and them needs as we get them started on their own little journeys.

Lissa, your words brought back to me the memory of when my oldest was about Siena's age and asked why he couldn't stay home with me (or why I had to go to work or something) and I sat him on my lap and explained about work. And I told him what my job was, what daddy's job and what his job was and why we all have to work to give our family food and roof and to make our lives interesting and rich and to make the world a better place. I also explained that there was more to life than work and I promised to play with him more and as much as I could. And I did.

To this day, I hear echoes of my speech in him (now on the edge of 17) when he talks about working for the things he wants to do, about his future jobs and I also hear him talk about how important it is not to work all the time. It's just amazing to me how our children pick up our values when we really own them:)

Love, Light and Patience to us all ~Dana

Yes, Jason- sometimes we just have to forgive ourselves for being imperfect parents and recognize that we are doing the best we can. I try to always lead with love- and I'm able to do that pretty well. My daughter knows she is infinitely loved. My struggle comes in time. She simply wants more of me than I can give- and that feels horrible. I know she is well nurtured- my husband is a full time, stay-home Dad- but as the Mommy, I feel a visceral need to give her as much of me as she wants. Recently, she seems to have accepted that Mommy simply isn't that available, and that feels even worse!

But yes, we do the best we can. We love our kids, try to stay sane, make efforts to be as present with them as we can, and lead by good example. But we are human and flawed- and that's okay. I'm not going to compare myself to the Mommys at Siena's preschool who bake cookies and do creative projects with their children all afternoon. My mother was one of those Mommys (and I am so grateful to her for all her sacrifices and love). But I'm not my mother. I am Lissa- just trying to be the Lissaest of Lissas. I just have to accept that I'm doing the best I can.

Thank you Jason for this honest, insightful post!

Be kind to yourself, Pinkies. Letting go of any expectation of perfection, Lissa