"What I Leave You"

I often wonder just how much good and bad my sons inherited from me. They are as different as night and day, therefore the issues they have had to deal with in their lives are also different. What bothers me is that all of the detrimental issues they face combined, I have had to face at one time or another in my own life. It's like I split them all right down the middle and give each one half, and telling them, "Here, this is yours and this is yours. Learn." Everyone has had to make a choice in their life about something on a daily basis. That's what life is...a series of choices. And we all have made bad ones as well as good. And for the most part, we do learn.

One thing I can say is that both of my sons did get all of the good that I have. I'm not taking anything from their Mother...I'm just sayin'. They have an open mind because I allowed them to think for themselves. They were allowed to speak their mind when we engaged discussions. Yet, they understood what was and wasn't negotiable.

I have watched them grow into young men, full of energy and dreams. I have also watched them endure heartache and pain. That is what hurts me; knowing that my bad traits were passed on down to them. Through it all, I know that they will continue to grow and learn lifes most difficult lessons. To this day, both still come to either their Mother or myself for guidance and advice. They don't always use it, but at least they know they can always come to either of us.