A whole new set of difficulties suddenly appear. Another parent may wonder how she will ever cope with the affectionate grade schooler who has become a defiant, sullen teenager. Life is a series of changes in which something familiar and predictable is left behind for something new and risky. The most parents can expect of themselves is to make the best choice they can at any given time. They must have faith that their love and guidance, as imperfect as they may be, will nurture another human being.
Relationships are like emotional bank accounts.
Everything parents do that is positive and uplifting is a deposit in the account. A smile, a good word, a gentle hug add to the positive side of the ledger. Everything parents do to confront, to criticize, or to punish are withdrawals from that account. Some withdrawals and some deposits are greater than others. Some withdrawals are inevitable, but to avoid a bankruptcy in the relationship, deposits must exceed withdrawals.