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When You Realize Parenting Is All About Letting Go
You know, there’s this saying I heard from the director of my kids’ preschool: “Parenting is just one long good-bye.” At the time, she was trying to calm our nerves as first-time moms leaving our little ones for a few hours at school. Her words stuck with me because they’re so true. Parenting is really a continuous journey of saying farewell and gradually letting go.
Just this week, my kids hit a couple of milestones—one moved up from elementary school, and the other completed middle school. They don’t call it graduation since there’s no degree involved, but “promotion” still feels like a nice way to mark this moment.
I snapped the usual promotion photos of them in outfits they’ll probably never wear again. I managed to catch a shot of Max walking out with a sea of 450 other graduates, most of whom I don’t know. I missed capturing one of Sarah because we were, unfortunately, sitting on the wrong side of the auditorium. I posted their pictures on social media with a light-hearted comment about how fast they’re growing up. But truthfully, I want to cry about it all.
They are maturing, getting older, and becoming more aware of the world around them. They have lives beyond my reach now, with friends I don’t know and feelings they sometimes keep to themselves. They can spend time together even when we’re all in the same house, and it feels like they are drifting away—just as they should, and as we have to let them.
In just four years, my oldest will be off to college. Four years isn’t much time at all. I catch myself saying things like, “Let me show you how to handle this; it might be helpful in college.” They look at me like I’ve lost my mind, roll their eyes, and occasionally indulge me. They don’t realize how quickly their time at home will vanish.
This is part of that long good-bye. It’s the part you know is coming—the milestones marking their growth—but you’re never really ready for it. Our role as parents is to gradually let them take flight on their own. Intellectually, I get this, but emotionally? That’s a different story.
If you want more insights on parenting, check out this post on home insemination kits, which is another topic we dive into. It’s really an excellent resource for anyone navigating the journey of family planning. And for those curious about the science behind it all, here’s a great article on in vitro fertilization.
In summary, parenting is a bittersweet journey filled with moments of letting go. As our children grow and find their independence, we learn to embrace these changes, even when it’s tough.