My parents raised me well

Mother’s Day is tomorrow and I have been thinking a lot about my childhood.  I really do not have a lot to complain about but I had issues like any other person.  My parents did the best they could but I did not understand that growing up.  Growing up I just saw two absent parents who did not have a lot of time for me.

I recently saw on the web a video of presidential historian Doug Wead discussing the parents of presidents.  He went on to say that the parents of presidents usually followed the same formula.  In fact, not just the parent of presidents, but the parents of leaders usually were made up of absent fathers and overly compensating mothers.  Parents of presidents were in some ways like my parents.

Like the parents of presidents my parents were absent.  I remember getting the lead in the school play but my parents being too busy to take me to practice or show up for opening night.  I walked home from every practice, which was not a big deal, but having to walk home each night was humiliating.  I remember hiding in the school bathroom until everyone had left so that I would not get asked over and over again where my parents were.

The parents of presidents usually had absent fathers and the sons idealized their fathers.  I suppose this is where my experience differs from the parents of presidents.  While I was the lead in the school play my parents were lying on the couch watching television.  President George H.W. Bush was quoted as saying that he was not around and that Barbara had to raise the kids.

My parents made mistakes and as a parent I am sure I am going to make many mistakes.  I can imagine some day my son blogging about my shortcomings.  The parents of presidents are not perfect but they do seem to raise the leaders of the free world.  Parents of presidents, no matter what the formula, do something right.  Parents of presidents may have shortcomings but they do raise leaders.