tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381811875173852585.post8518625808495042685..comments2023-11-10T02:18:23.772-08:00Comments on Minnesota Matron: Trite. Yet She Cannot Move Beyond ThisMinnesota Matronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16565431067927240183noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381811875173852585.post-30616271002951040072009-06-18T17:35:42.306-07:002009-06-18T17:35:42.306-07:00I found Outliers comforting. It seemed to say I m...I found Outliers comforting. It seemed to say I might as well stick with the pie.Swistlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13126937282657655091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381811875173852585.post-55447465219664793882009-06-18T10:24:15.990-07:002009-06-18T10:24:15.990-07:00My daughter will be 18 in 53 days. I've been a...My daughter will be 18 in 53 days. I've been a single parent almost all of her life. She has always had a roof over her head, clothing to wear and food to eat. I have never misplaced or broken her. Neither has she gotten involved with sex, drugs or alcohol. For now, I count that as my success.~anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16024292695552155156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381811875173852585.post-5263551210243734732009-06-18T00:12:45.465-07:002009-06-18T00:12:45.465-07:00So, get that book published. I love reading your ...So, get that book published. I love reading your words, would pay to read them, in fact. Would a book feel like success? Who knows, but why not try it on and see? I'll be waiting.<br /><br />Amybearberryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02125096706060681680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381811875173852585.post-69498667634718105692009-06-17T19:30:56.674-07:002009-06-17T19:30:56.674-07:00Success is - oh, heck, I can't define it, eith...Success is - oh, heck, I can't define it, either. We still struggle to pay tuition for one, convince the school district that the other one still has Asperger's and hasn't miraculously been cured, no matter what his IEP says...but I digress.Daisyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11647906900944224234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381811875173852585.post-90758640269723285342009-06-17T09:10:15.608-07:002009-06-17T09:10:15.608-07:00I think this derives from the fact that, as Americ...I think this derives from the fact that, as Americans growing up in the latter half of the 19th century, we were trained to think of success as an individual achievement sort of thing. Yet, as we have grown up and become parents, we've realized that the success can be more complicated than that. There is the success of serving others, the success of nurturing one's children, etc. Yet the dreams instilled in us as children come back to haunt us, taunt us, even, with implications of inadequacy and lack of fulfillment.<br /><br />In other words, we're brought up to define success as individual achievement, yet life is way more complex than that.Suburban Correspondenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11488916572135296650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381811875173852585.post-40410423042809546122009-06-17T07:55:34.531-07:002009-06-17T07:55:34.531-07:00Maybe you're too young. In my 60s-now-retired...Maybe you're too young. In my 60s-now-retired-stage, age has brought an acceptance of the ups and downs of life personally and professionally, and each moment is far more a treasure than ever before. I feel young. My adult children are independent - they have their struggles - but, I am thoroughly happy just to be in their midst. <br /><br />You are in the middle of your career and raising children - a busy, stressful time. Don't be afraid of the next stage - it makes "being" a success.Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12630002667487895598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381811875173852585.post-75864504446085577402009-06-17T07:09:44.860-07:002009-06-17T07:09:44.860-07:00I have the same question Matron...how do we recogn...I have the same question Matron...how do we recognize when we've achieved "success"? And if we do recognize it, is that self-serving? <br /><br />I'm not sure that I agree with kmkat...I think you can experience success and strive to be successful while your children are young without, as she says, neglecting something or someone. Is it easier once all the children are in grade school? Of course. But, it all depends on what your personal definition of success is.<br /><br />Matron, when you hold a class on that (defining personal success), let me know--I'll be there.Tammyhttp://knittinginmysleep.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381811875173852585.post-32156645046831528122009-06-16T22:27:55.454-07:002009-06-16T22:27:55.454-07:00I like what kmkat said.
I did some interesting r...I like what kmkat said. <br /><br />I did some interesting reading on Mt. Everest climbers--one author interviewed the girlfriends, wives and children of the climbers (most are men). The climbers were successful at conquering Everest, but most were not successful parents or mates.Jenn @ Juggling Lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14455967210924573398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381811875173852585.post-79990173600866494662009-06-16T21:46:41.884-07:002009-06-16T21:46:41.884-07:00I kinda think that while one's children are st...I kinda think that while one's children are still at home, especially if one or more of them are still in grade school, it is not possible to think about any success farther than food on the table on a regular basis, clean clothes to wear, no looming visits from the health inspector or child welfare, and feeling pretty sure the next few mortgage payments are covered. Strive for more than that and something or somebody gets neglected. <br /><br />I think that means you are already successful, and that any further reaching for the stars may need to be postponed for a few years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7381811875173852585.post-15230264230235079122009-06-16T21:22:27.768-07:002009-06-16T21:22:27.768-07:00Hmmm... Felt this before too. Far too frequently,...Hmmm... Felt this before too. Far too frequently, I dare say. There is solace in knowing that I'm not trying to live through my children and that I feel like I'm still capable of achieving success, however elusive it might be.MJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03010547516401501448noreply@blogger.com