I am so grateful. Start all my mornings… up around 2:30-3. In bed last night at 7:30. Do the math before gasping. Previewed the new Mercedes Benz Stadium yesterday. New home of my Atlanta Falcons. Incredible. But draining too.In the sack early after another enchanting day.You see my life experiences today are good… bad, actually very good very bad sometimes … but never wrong. All are intended to provide stuff in our lives that exhilarate us, hurt us. But God is never wrong. He knows what we need, good and bad. Sends it all our way… good and bad. I feel all this. Just understand His plan.One thing I’ve always thought was a bad? The fact that my children. Two beautiful daughters. Now in their forties. Rarely reach out to me. Being the pest I can be. “”Darn it! Why?” You know those typical feelings. “I’ve done so much for them. Love them so. Where did they go?” What have I done? “I deserve… actually have earned more attention more respect.” Yeah! Feel at times like I am watching life go by without them. Watching. From the bleachers.

Nice. But a realization. During a session with that coach of mine I’ve mentioned in CA.“Bob, what are you talking about?” “Relax.”“You’re expecting your relationships with your girls to be as close as some you enjoy with those you coach… others, me” It’s different, will be different with them.

Then this.You were brought into this world, your girls worlds. To raise them. Discipline, love them. Frustrated, zigging zagging through all those early years. Showing them the way. Helping shape. Their character, values, confidence, determination. Wondrous.”You helped them find the life they lead today. A life of their own. On their own. It just like a mother robin… you must let them fly the nest… for now. Later as they reach more of their adult… they’ come back. They’ll return.

Hmmm. I’d been poking, lamenting. “Can I come over? Why don’t you guys call more?” I love them so much. What’s the deal?Clear to me all of a sudden. Let em go. Let them live the lives you spent all those years preparing them for. For the lives they lead today. You guided them to. Stop pushing.In truth there had been a palpable tension my interactions with my girls.“C’mon Dad. We love you, but really. Stop being so needy.” Ouch!Little did I know, know now! It’s Ok… it’s so Ok. Let go.They still love me! They are simply living the lives I was brought here to guide them to. Let em fly the nest.A relief. Now? They reach out more. Of course. They usually need something. Babysitting, cash whatever. So Ok. Our connections, though? And this is unspoken. Are less tense, more loving, “softer.” Clear all of a sudden.

So if you think your kids have somehow abandoned you… after all you’ve done! Oh, and this is my issue with my kids. Yours may be very different.Cease. They still love you. (Maybe unknown to them.) Now in a seemingly strange way… more than ever. They’ll come back someday when their lives are less hectic. Have more time… space … for their Dad.