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Love means....

LOVE is complicated and yet so easily recognizable. LOVE can be profoundly tender and yet deeply painful. Some still believe in those desperately pathetic words that Ali McGraw once said to Ryan O'Neal, "Love means never having to say you're sorry." (REALLY?)

And yet, to others, LOVE means ALWAYS having to say you're sorry, especially when it's no fault of your own. To the latter believers, it seems that the more you love, the more 'sorry' you feel. It is so clearly the 'ying and yang' of parenthood.

You're sorry when you child falls and scrapes his knee because YOU weren't there to prevent it.

You're sorry when your child has to endure doctors' needles and probing sticks down the throat because YOU did nothing to prevent it.

You're sorry that your child must miss a class field trip due to an illness that YOU couldn't make go away.

You're sorry that he can't have dessert just before dinner because only YOU think it's going to spoil his appetite.

You're sorry when you're the only means of transportation and you're not available on demand because YOU can't be in two places at once.

You're sorry when his plans fall through because YOU are somehow responsible.

You're sorry that your child must miss an afternoon of fun because of an abundance of homework that YOU selfishly refuse to do for him.

You're sorry he has to take yet another shower even though he took one yesterday because only YOU think that sweat is dirty.

You're sorry when you stand firm on principle because it's the right thing to do and YOU obviously chose the wrong time to be tough.

You're sorry when a promise YOU made conflicts with an unexpected occurrence that YOU obviously didn't prevent.

You're sorry when he fails to finish a test because time ran out and YOU weren't there to reset the clock.

You're sorry when your child didn't make the 'team' because YOU couldn't get the coach to see his potential.

You're sorry when your child's error on the playing field caused a crucial score for your opponent and YOU weren't able to turn back time and re-run the play with a more positive outcome.

You're sorry when some kid calls your child an unflattering name and YOU weren't there to block the words OR knock the #@#@ out of the kid and/or his mother.

You're sorry that he's not old enough to see an 'R' rated movie and, much to his surprise, YOU still refuse to take him.

You're sorry when the focus of your child's affection is not reciprocated and he experiences his first heartbreak, and YOU couldn't take the pain away or even possibly understand his grief.

You're sorry when he wasn't invited to a party and YOU weren't able to shield him from finding out.

You're sorry that he's the shortest of his contemporaries because YOU chose to marry a short man.

You're sorry that he doesn't like your new hairstyle as YOU obviously didn't consider his opinion and now HE must live with it.

You're sorry when his older sibling doesn't want to hang with him and YOU offer yourself as a substitute, but YOU know that you're not the same.

You're sorry that he's experiencing puberty because YOU'RE a girl and YOU can't possibly know what he's going through.

You're sorry for asking him for the hundredth time if he's completed his homework because YOU know how annoying YOU can be.

You're sorry that he got his bike stolen because YOU didn't think it was necessary to remind him for the hundredth (and 1) time to put it in the garage when he was done riding.

You're sorry that he didn't have the option of being born into another family because his dad and YOU just weren't thinking about the consequences.

As a parent, is there truly a day that goes by that we aren't prepared to be 'sorry' for something? I'm sorry Ms. McGraw, but 'love' does mean having to say "you're sorry". It's now 3pm, and I have 3 minutes before my oldest comes walking through the door.
I'm sorry, but my child needs me.....

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