Giving your children roots and wings
Hello all,
I know it's been a while since I've written but as I said in my last post, I was having a much needed holiday in Spain ( which was AMAZING, by the way!)
Well, my youngest son survived very well without me and I came home to a very neat and tidy house! It was actually a great thing to leave him on his own for all that time because he learned how to be independent - he cooked, cleaned, did his laundry and generally enjoyed being here at home on his own!
One of many things about being a parent, particularly a single parent, is ensuring that throughout the growing years, you need to instill in them that they will always have a place to which they can return - which is the "roots" part , like a tree with roots that go down deep and able to withstand the difficulties of life that we all encounter at some stage, and knowing that they can always come back to you for support. Imparting your wisdom and encouragement during these years is crucial for their development into a responsible adult and as I said earlier, when you're a single parent, it's even more challenging because you have no one to ask for reassurance that what you're trying to impart is wise.
Travelling around Spain on my own gave me plenty of opportunity to contemplate my life and it changed me in more ways than one. I knew that it would also change my young son and as I said in my first paragraph, I came home to a young man who wanted to help me more because he realised that running a household comes with its challenges but it also opens up that door to new opportunities and freedom.
It's during times like this that that is when you see all the seeds that you've sown are beginning to flourish and it's a good feeling.
The hard part though is giving them wings. Giving them roots and wings is one thing but trying to do both simultaneously is the really hard part.
I bought my young son a motor bike for his 18th birthday, which is something that caused me a great deal of mixed emotions and thoughts and I bought it for him a couple of months before I left, knowing that I just had to trust God and put my faith in Him to keep him safe. I bought it for him because where we live, you need either public transport, which has its own challenges, or a car. As time was running out before I left, I knew that I would not be able to give him the necessary 100 hours of instruction before he gained his Provisional license, so hence why he wanted the bike.
Naturally, it caused me no end of concern/anxiety, but as I said, I had to trust God.
Fast forward these past few months and his riding skills have improved a great deal and he is a lot more confident. As for me, I know that I can't worry and trust God at the same time, so I choose to trust God and every time he gets on that bike, naturally I pray and I just have to have faith.
Of course, the next part of giving him "wings" will be when he moves out of home next year sometime. When my older children moved out, as much as I felt sad and a whole gammut of emotions followed, I know that when my youngest moves out, my "baby" , it will be even more difficult for me because he'll be the last one. I keep telling myself that that is when MY life will begin a new and exciting chapter, but I would be lying if I said that it will be all good! But, that is life.
It makes me proud that I have raised all of my children to be independent and also to know that they are good, responsible, kind hearted adults who not only enrich my life but other people's lives as well. I couldn't ask for any more. I am truly blessed.
Until next time,
I am the Girl from Down Under xx
I know it's been a while since I've written but as I said in my last post, I was having a much needed holiday in Spain ( which was AMAZING, by the way!)
Well, my youngest son survived very well without me and I came home to a very neat and tidy house! It was actually a great thing to leave him on his own for all that time because he learned how to be independent - he cooked, cleaned, did his laundry and generally enjoyed being here at home on his own!
One of many things about being a parent, particularly a single parent, is ensuring that throughout the growing years, you need to instill in them that they will always have a place to which they can return - which is the "roots" part , like a tree with roots that go down deep and able to withstand the difficulties of life that we all encounter at some stage, and knowing that they can always come back to you for support. Imparting your wisdom and encouragement during these years is crucial for their development into a responsible adult and as I said earlier, when you're a single parent, it's even more challenging because you have no one to ask for reassurance that what you're trying to impart is wise.
Travelling around Spain on my own gave me plenty of opportunity to contemplate my life and it changed me in more ways than one. I knew that it would also change my young son and as I said in my first paragraph, I came home to a young man who wanted to help me more because he realised that running a household comes with its challenges but it also opens up that door to new opportunities and freedom.
It's during times like this that that is when you see all the seeds that you've sown are beginning to flourish and it's a good feeling.
The hard part though is giving them wings. Giving them roots and wings is one thing but trying to do both simultaneously is the really hard part.
I bought my young son a motor bike for his 18th birthday, which is something that caused me a great deal of mixed emotions and thoughts and I bought it for him a couple of months before I left, knowing that I just had to trust God and put my faith in Him to keep him safe. I bought it for him because where we live, you need either public transport, which has its own challenges, or a car. As time was running out before I left, I knew that I would not be able to give him the necessary 100 hours of instruction before he gained his Provisional license, so hence why he wanted the bike.
Naturally, it caused me no end of concern/anxiety, but as I said, I had to trust God.
Fast forward these past few months and his riding skills have improved a great deal and he is a lot more confident. As for me, I know that I can't worry and trust God at the same time, so I choose to trust God and every time he gets on that bike, naturally I pray and I just have to have faith.
Of course, the next part of giving him "wings" will be when he moves out of home next year sometime. When my older children moved out, as much as I felt sad and a whole gammut of emotions followed, I know that when my youngest moves out, my "baby" , it will be even more difficult for me because he'll be the last one. I keep telling myself that that is when MY life will begin a new and exciting chapter, but I would be lying if I said that it will be all good! But, that is life.
It makes me proud that I have raised all of my children to be independent and also to know that they are good, responsible, kind hearted adults who not only enrich my life but other people's lives as well. I couldn't ask for any more. I am truly blessed.
Until next time,
I am the Girl from Down Under xx
Comments
Post a Comment