Sunday 19 October 2008

Roots and Wings or Apron Strings?

So last night Rich and i took Becky to school. She is off on a weekend of abseiling, canoeing, arial roping and orienteering, with the rest of the kids in her school year group! We stood with her best mate (and room mate for the weekend) and her parents (good friends of ours also). We chatted and teased the girls about sharing a room, and we laughed, we laughed a lot.
Their classmates came over with their parents and we all introduced ourselves to one another.
Looking around some kids looked a little aprehensive, others excited and some stood quietly with their parents.
Becky turned to me and said "No offence Mum, but i really love it when i go away from you and Dad for a little while!"
I smiled and told her no offence taken, it meant that Dad and I were doing our job right!
She just hugged me!
So the coaches arrived and Becky and Katie could not get away from us fast enough, quick kisses and they were gone, suitcases in tow!
We did not run after them, or follow them, we stood fast and continued chatting.
As we looked towards where the children were congregated there were hoards of parents and siblings all jostling to get one last look of their child! The families banged on coach windows and waved like mad. Some Mums cried - they acually burst into tears at the thought of their baby leaving them for 2 nights and 2 days! A trip they had knowingly paid for, willingly let their offspring go on and still cried like they were unprepared for this moment.
I get a sense of sheer love and pride when one of my children heads of happily, i know they will have a great time, they will laugh and learn and come home bursting to tell me all they got up to. So i am happy to see them go off and look forward to picking them up. But am i wrong to enjoy this small amount of time away from my beloved child? Am i wrong not to cry at the loss of them for two days? Or am i laying the foundations of root and wings?
I cannot wait to collect her on Monday afternoon, nor can i wait until her photos get developed so i can see the weekend through her eyes. But for now i am happy that she is happy to be where she is.


Good parents give their children Roots and Wings. Roots to know where home is, wings to fly away and exercise what's been taught them.

-- Jonas Salk


5 comments:

Lady divine said...

this is such a lovely post!!!! and you two are such cool parents too..:D

hope Becky has a great time..

carrhop said...

What a great experience for her--and I love that you have developed the kind of relationship with her that she is comfortable telling you how much she enjoys her 'independent' time--what a great testimony to the confidence and honesty you have built into the relationship!

Love the new layout--looks great!
Blessings!

Jen said...

You are such an awesome mom! You have such a strong relationship with all your kiddos and have allowed each of them to grow into the wonderful individuals they are today and will be in the future. A great post and I LOVE the quote.

I look forward to hearing what a great time Becky had on her trip.

carrhop said...

Hey there! Thanks so much for the comment on my story! I had so much fun writing it! The Scribbit contest is judged each month by a guest judge--so no voting. How are things in your world? I'm fighting a badddd cold--so hopefully this makes sense--the cold meds do leave me loopy! ;o)
Hugs and blessings!

Mommy2Twinkies-Deb said...

What a great post! And awesome quote. I think I'll write that one down for the future, thank you very much! To be honest with you, my kids are just 2 1/2 and I can't imagine them being big enough to go away on their own for the weekend, but I know I'll be prepared when it gets here. Kudos to my Mom-At 10 I went to sleep away camp for a week, and at 16 went to live in Japan for a year. Japan was a life defining time for me, so I thank Mom for having the courage to let me go!

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