It can be hard to let go and let grow up

This is to the ones who know the parenting life. No matter if you are a parent or adopted parent.

No matter if you are a family friend, a mentor or Family. Aunt or Uncle, Brother or Sister.

You will agree it is hard to let go and let grow.

Letting go of ones child or children starts at birth, when the mother is in the delivery room either screaming in pain to get that hateful child out of her or smiling and feeling the love of the meds the Doctor called for to be given to for the sanity of the doctor or the safty of the birthing mother.

you got that sweet smelling little bundle of joy in your arms, you listen to the sweet little noises that baby or babies make, you count toes and fingers, you look to make sure all body parts are where they should be and then you settle into the comfort zone for a few months any way.

Children can either drive you crazy, make you mad, want to cry, want to laugh or want to run very, very far away when they have been running a fever and are still in a diaper and that diaper becomes REALLY FULL with the kind of love from them you just hate to have to endure, but some body has to do it.

When the little ones are able to crawl in away you are releaved, but then again you almost wish they weren't old enough to do that. Then once they have masterd the crawl, they take to learning to walk.

As most parents are you become over joyed and thrilled that your little one is in that phase of life and right on track. At this time one does not realise that the child or children are becoming independant and learning to go forward in life as one, but you still are the safety net.

Then comes the first day of their school life, their first day they are completly away from home, mom, and favorite toy(s), either you and the child cry or its just you crying and the child smiling and waving see you later.

Then its their first Date, their first Car, their First time out and away from home with out you to be looking over their shoulder to make sure they are not doing what they aren't supposed to do.

Then you get hit with reality, they have let go along time ago, so why haven't you?

But once, one that THINKS they are in love with Mr or Miss Wonderful and have gotten their heart broken or crushed, you are their for them to run back to and have the shoulders for them to cry on and the arms for them to fall into that lets them know"Its ok, I'm here just let it all out, we'll get through this together." or so you think.

Is it the Empty Nest syndrome or just knowing you are still wanted when they come back?

I am going through that once again of letting my daughter grow up even more as she has done in the past.

It is VERY hard to let go when you see that they know they are ready to face life and its challenges. You stand back and watch them in the "every day life" game. You have been the one that has more or less controled them in every thing they do, don't do, and are determined to do.

Its NOT easy by no means to let them take over the reins of life. Then you realise that you haven't finished growing up either.