justplainbil

Just Plain Bill

“One thing that unquestionably 
makes for a good parent…”

- Calvin Trillin

As I’ve been writing about experiences in my life over the past six months – 30 weekly posts to my blog - I’ve noticed there’s both an ongoing recollection of experiences from my youth as well as ongoing reflection of experiences in my role as a parent of three wonderful children. 

I recently moved after almost 13 years. I thought it more than just coincidence that during the chaos I ran across some articles I’d torn from newspapers over the years. Those yellowed scraps of newspaper had always seemed to hold a promise for me that when the time was “right”, their contents would become relevant once again. 

The latest serendipitous finding was a special quote by Calvin Trillin. It’s resonating at this moment while I prepare another blog entry about my mother.

The clipping speaks to the role of a parent and how one might become a “good parent”: 

“One thing that unquestionably makes for a good parent

is the survival into adulthood of one’s own childhood.”

There is no shortage of opinions and there are studies too numerous to count assessing what contributes to making one a “good parent.” While Calvin Trillin is an author and not a researcher, his exquisite, simple and direct assessment is more than a prescription; “…the survival into adulthood of one’s own childhood” is giving one’s self permission to enjoy and embrace the wonder of possibilities for the role of a good parent.

In these later years of my life (I’m now into my seventh decade), I’m still “accused” of being childlike and playful – two titles that I gladly identify with and for which I thank Trillin for granting me permission.