It's come to my attention that parenting from halfway around the world has different challenges than say...parenting from the same time zone. For example, I have a tendency when I finally get to see Ryan or Sallie, who both live in Texas, to perhaps revert to parenting them like I did when they were, I don't know, 12. It was blatantly pointed out to me, in the best way possible, when we were in New Orleans with Ryan. We shared a room with him, which actually was fun, at least for us. We loved getting to see him more than we would had we been in separate rooms. On the down side, if he wanted to go meet old high school friends, or do something after we headed to bed, then we knew he was not back in the room and started to worry. The following week was Russell and Talitha's reception in Dallas. Ryan double checked to make sure he had his own room. Ok, he is almost 25 years old so this is an understandable question, especially after four days of sharing in NO. He tried to ask nicely, but Mike and I were on to him. "Yes. We got you your own room. Why? Don't you like sharing with your Mom and Dad???" Slightly smirking, "Well, you know, after parenting from halfway around the world, when all of a sudden you a separated by only a lamp.... It's like binge parenting." It still makes me laugh.
On the other hand, I realized something else this morning when I went to make sure Robert was up and getting ready for school. He is number 4. Our last to experience his senior year. The last one in the nest. I think we are looking at a different issue here. One of my favorite sit coms, The Middle, actually says it best. 3 kids. 2 have left for the State college only an hour away. 1 left at home. In the first two episodes Mom and Dad are so worn out with getting the first 2 out of the nest that number 3, Brick, is off the radar. "You know I'm still here, right? You still have to parent me." I laughed so hard I nearly cried. Robert wakes up this morning and says, "So can you wash my sheets today?" "Sure buddy, (didn't I just do that? oh wait, hmmm) whenever you want just throw them down the stairs." My kids are good sports. To say the least. :)
And then there is learning how to relate to and NOT parent the first married couple in the family... Thankfully, they are amazing kids/adults and only one time zone away! No matter how you look at it, we are always learning how to parent. I wish my folks had told me that. :)
The guest speaker at the Retreat was the Christian rapper Lecrae. Although Mike and I weren't familiar with his music, the teens sure were! We got a crash course in a couple of his songs as we drove them to the meeting point in Doha. Although I am not a fan of rap, I have to say, his lyrics were terrific. Loud and poundy but but terrific. :) He also preached at church on Friday and did several evening events as well. 
