The Rule of Three

There are three very important virtues to raising a family; Safety, Happiness, and Structure. I think, to an extent, that all parents have these same virtues in one way or another. How you implement them, use them, abuse them, and stand them is up to you; this makes you parents. One major problem with this though; these three virtues hate each other.

Think about a magnet. Magnets have complete opposite sides; basically a positive and a negative. If I were to have two magnets and attempt to place the positive to the positive, the magnet will forcefully disagree. They hate one side, but love the other. Now, add a third. Each magnet attempting to live peacefully but hating their opposite side. Push them together, attempting to touch their opposite enemy, now you have The Rule of Three.

Physically speaking, there is only one way to keep these magnets together; tape. Place three magnets on a table, place tape across the top, now you have a standing tower that is forced to coincide. The tape, in this metaphor, is dicsipline.

Dicsipline to keep The Rule of Three together is, arguably, the most difficult job there is. There is nothing more than I want than my kids' happiness. Often times their happiness is dangerous (i.e. jumping on the bed). Often times structure makes them unhappy (i.e. bedtime). These three virtues are going to be the death of me. Welcome to parenting, right?

I think that this is the problem that needs to be solved. The problem, above all, will make me happy. This is not true. This is only the core, the structure of my life that need not crumble. If it were to crumble, well, the rest may as well not matter.

On top of all of this is expectations, however subtle. I do not think that my family, friends, or co-workers actively, or coinsciencly, expect me to do anything for them. This is my job, my responsibility, and my most pleasurable act of my existence.

Expectations can be massive boulders placed atop my shoulders. Most of these are placed there myself, without the help or knowledge of anyone else. This is how I live my life. This is my way of keeping myself honest, keeping myself along the path I laid, and keeping myself there for my family. There are days that these boulders of expectations are too heavy to handle. There are days I just want to drop to the ground and let the boulders pin me, tuck myself under them and hide from the sadness I can inflict on my loved ones if I do not follow through. This is what makes life, life. This is what makes me stronger, the longer I hold these boulders up, the stronger I get.

If there was a book on how to live your life right (I know there are plenty of the like) then everyone would be living happily, eating more healthy, life without war, life without complications, and living life without difficulties. What is the fun in that? I think these difficulties are strategically placed in order for us to learn, live, and survive. What other point would there be to live?


Moral of the story: Don't Do Drugs!