Born to serve?

It occurs to me that almost all of the people in my parents lives who have known them over a period of time have rejected them. Where could they go to find friends who will never reject them, no matter what?

It is like the farmer, who said, "It is hard to find good help -- we will just make them!" (referring to his many children).

I can almost hear them saying: “if we can’t keep our friends, we will just make them!"

That’s how it works, right? I heard him say words, “adoption is more because you can divorce your husband, but you can’t divorce  crazy that she would even contemplate that.

Children? We are stuck. Stuck with dysfunctional people we would not think twice about. But what does that have to do with you? Why do I have to even entertain the notion of keeping dysfunctional people in my life? What do I owe them?

 I feel like social pressures, religious ideas, and family tradition keep pushing me back. Well, they are wrong! This is my damn life. And I have a right to decide who to leave it with.

I will not become like a tyrant in demand that my children hang out with me when I am old, even if I am I can tanker us an ordinary person. I will strive to be a good person, a person worthy of relationship. And if they choose not to spend time with me, I will reconsider my actions. That’s what normal decent people do.

And as for my parents: I say no. You do not have a right to me. You do not have a right to my children. Blood has limits.

I will not live my life in bondage to a hereditary ball and chain. I’m flying free.

If you want friends, show yourself to be friendly. If you want to be friends with your kids, be friendly to them. There are no shortcuts. And you cannot mandate friendship through Tierney and familial bonds.