Letting Go With a Watchful Eye
The ultimate challenge of parenting
There is an old saying that the only constant is change, and I cannot think of any aspect of life that changes more frequently than parenting. From the time of birth, the demands of parenting steadily change as time progresses. The newness of the newborn fades into the tumultuous toddler years, if we blink, that newborn is asking for the keys or telling us that we are about to become grandparents.
When my son was born, more than one older person admonished me to enjoy those years because they go by quickly. Deep down, I knew they were right but until it happened, there was a part of me that remained convinced. Time didn’t matter what I thought. It went about its business just the same.
I knew I would get older. I just didn’t realize it would happen this fast.
If someone asked me what the important components of being a parent are, I would of course say that loving the child unconditionally is paramount. Providing emotional and material support is also important, as is setting a good example. Giving generously of your time is also key, and so is taking a genuine interest in what your child does.
There is one more component of parenting that merits some discussion, and that component is knowing when and how to let go.
