Most parents I know put their heart & soul into rearing their children. Sweat, blood, tears, swears (sometimes), laughter... It all goes into molding our children for their future. We all know that there will come a time to let go... but how do we know how far to "let go"? My youngest is graduating next week. She is the first of my children to go to college (if we can make it through the damn paperwork and financials, yadda yadda). I am fine with having an "empty nest". I have plans of finding another part time job to fill my time and fill the college's bank account.
But... this question was asked of me today...."I know I need to let go, but how far do I know to let go? And what if I let go too much?" My answer was simple... your child will tell you! LOL Throughout our children's lives, they are born making their needs and wants known. Crying for diaper changes or food, asking verbally for help with homework, asking or whining until their needs or wants are known. It is the same as they get older, just a different form of "asking". It might be words unsaid, but a look that tells it all. I watch for the "looks"... they tell their own story about how the day went, what might or might not have happened, what heart ache or happiness needs to be shared. My daughter is stressed over ending of her High School life and starting another "life". She is bordering on a "secret" life of growing up and what now is to be shared or not shared with her Mom. I have done the only thing I felt I should... I left her a note on her bed. We all experience life and with it the new things that growing up brings. We all have choices to be made with the new things growing up brings into our life. It is her life now... It is her choices now. Ah... yes, the joys of growing up... Ah, YES! The moments that will define our future, make us into the person we will be (whether we want those choices to do that or not), and the choices on changing those choices... THANK GOD, I don't have to relive that!! LOL Here's to our children... the future is now THEIRS! :)
But... this question was asked of me today...."I know I need to let go, but how far do I know to let go? And what if I let go too much?" My answer was simple... your child will tell you! LOL Throughout our children's lives, they are born making their needs and wants known. Crying for diaper changes or food, asking verbally for help with homework, asking or whining until their needs or wants are known. It is the same as they get older, just a different form of "asking". It might be words unsaid, but a look that tells it all. I watch for the "looks"... they tell their own story about how the day went, what might or might not have happened, what heart ache or happiness needs to be shared. My daughter is stressed over ending of her High School life and starting another "life". She is bordering on a "secret" life of growing up and what now is to be shared or not shared with her Mom. I have done the only thing I felt I should... I left her a note on her bed. We all experience life and with it the new things that growing up brings. We all have choices to be made with the new things growing up brings into our life. It is her life now... It is her choices now. Ah... yes, the joys of growing up... Ah, YES! The moments that will define our future, make us into the person we will be (whether we want those choices to do that or not), and the choices on changing those choices... THANK GOD, I don't have to relive that!! LOL Here's to our children... the future is now THEIRS! :)
