Every single day as a parent is a lesson in letting go. I mean this literally. Since the day the idea for this post came to me, four days ago, I have had four different renditions of this lesson. And you know what? Each lesson is harder than the last one. And I’m going to talk about each lesson today.
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Scenario 1- Letting go physically
As parents, we are the primary caregivers, so it stands to reason that our kids will turn to us for that comforting cuddle or the bear hug which soothes all troubles. I still remember the moments when Gy would clutch my hand tightly while crossing the road or cling to my leg in the supermarket. In fact, any time it appeared as if I was about to head out, her toddler eyes would light up. She’d come dashing towards the door, hope unfolding in her puppy eyes and a plea on her lips, ‘Amma, I want to come with you!’
On many occasions, I would scoop her up and carry her along. That stopped pretty soon as my arms couldn’t take her plump baby fat as the years progressed. But we’d walk, hand in hand, watching butterflies on our path or counting cars on the road. And it was an incredible feeling. So much so that I could never imagine a time when this wouldn’t happen.
About ten days ago, she offered to go down to the grocery store and pick up some milk. The store is 350 metres away (I checked!) and it’s on a road with some amount of traffic. After debating the decision for a while, I agreed to send her, provided she took the bike and would watch herself on the road. Delighted, she gave me a bear hug, strapped on her helmet and wheeled the bicycle out.
I’m not going to lie. That was the hardest thing for me to do! From my home’s balcony, I can view the road for about 200 metres, so I watched like a hawk as her lithe form cycled over rough terrain, dodging cats and dogs while avoiding larger vehicles. Each time my heart jumped into my throat as she slowed down.
After a while, I couldn’t see her thanks to the tree cover. Fingers twiddling, eyebrows furrowed, I breathed deeply, waiting for the 15 minutes to elapse when I could see her blue helmet again. Pacing up and down the balcony only seemed to aggravate my tension further!
This was a stupid idea! What was I thinking? No way am I going to send her again!
But the second I saw her return on the bike, my heart did a fist pump (is that even possible?) and I let out a silent whoop of joy. Her eyes shone as I opened the door and she exclaimed, ‘Amma, that was amazing! I want to do this regularly!’
With a bittersweet smile, I hugged her and realised the first truth about letting go:
Letting them go, physically, is hard, but it teaches them about taking risks.
Scenario 2 – Letting go mentally
For the last two months, almost every Sunday, I’ve taken Gy to her music class across town. While the location is 30 kilometres away and would ordinarily have taken me 2 hours one way, the Metro line has saved abundant time! We now make the journey in 35 minutes and in the confines of an air-conditioned train. It’s a dream come true, given the traffic snarls in this city!
Since we’ve comfortably managed this routine, I’ve purchased an extra Metro travel card for her, which makes swiping in and out of stations quick and easy. Her 11-year-old self is delighted with the whole experience: swiping the card, running up the stairs to catch the train, grabbing a favourite seat in the coach or just standing while holding on to the guard rail watching the city zoom past. She even mouths along with the recorded announcements over the PA system, switching comfortably between Kannada and English.
It’s a delight to watch that energy and also envy it to some extent. And I’m happy because it gives us a chance to travel together and while away the time in idle chatter.
Which is why it came as a slight shock when she announced this morning: ‘You know, in about 2 years or so, I should take the Metro alone. I already know everything to be done. Would be fun, don’t you think?’
I confess I didn’t share this sentiment. My 13-year-old, alone on a train? What was she thinking? It’s just the excitement talking!
As the day wore on and I had time to think about it, I realised that even if it didn’t happen 2 years from now, there would come a day when it would happen! I would have to stand at the door and bid her goodbye when she decides to take a train alone, move to another city alone or set off for work. Alone.
That, then, was the second lesson in letting go.
Let them speak about their independence, for pretty soon, it’s going to be a reality.
Scenario 3 – Letting go intellectually
As a Type A person (and it’s not something I am necessarily proud of), I need things done a certain way and within a certain time. A lot of our power struggles as mom and daughter emerge from this habit of mine.
I was not the brightest student in the class till middle school. In fact, I could easily qualify for the bottom of the class and pretty often did. It wasn’t that I didn’t have the brains for it. I simply didn’t have the inclination to study.
That changed in Grade 8, due to a number of reasons. A switch in my brain flipped and from then I worked hard and really enjoyed the art of studying and learning.
Today, when I see Gy it frustrates me no end, especially when I know of her potential as a person. If she would only take the effort to actually work a bit harder, she would see the results. She chooses to study if the mood strikes or if it’s a subject that she enjoys but nowhere near what I would expect of her.
This led to meltdowns, tantrums and ‘I hate yous’Β thrown my way every time I’d ask her to study. And honestly, the tension in the room is pretty thick on those days.
After a particularly explosive episode which resulted in her storming out of the room and yelling at me, I sat down, shaken. Closing my eyes, I reflected on what could be done. That’s when I recalled my own life as a student. It needed a particular set of circumstances to make me move out of my languid zone and into a space of love for learning. And the trick was it didn’t happen because someone pushed me into it. It had to occur on its own and when the time was right.
That was the third lesson in letting go that came to me:
Your children must be allowed to make their own mistakes and learn from them.
Scenario 4 – Letting go emotionally
I know I talk a lot about peaceful parenting and not yelling at your kids. While that is an ideal scenario and something that should happen effortlessly, it’s not always that simple. And I don’t yell, but I do find the tension rise in my shoulders and work its way up to my brain when things appear to get out of hand.
Handling a tween is a very tricky situation because the smallest of things can set them off. They are equally quick to apologise and come in for that hug when they’ve acted out too. But this up and down behaviour can take a toll on a parent. Ask me. I know.
One big mistake most of us make in relationships is the weight of expectations that we place on each other. This applies to friends, spouses, colleagues and of course, parents and kids. I’ve always prided myself on being reasonably expectation-free when it comes to my relationships. I try not to place undue stress on anyone or judge them for their behaviour since I allow them a lot of leeway.
The one relationship I haven’t done that with is the one with Gy.
My reasons for these are varied. In my eyes, I am responsible for her. Her actions are a reflection on me. People will judge me if she slips up. If she doesn’t behave as expected, fingers will be pointed at my upbringing.
Can you tell that the weight of parenting guilt sits on me, as heavy as a mountain?
After one episode which led to me holding my tongue for the better part of a day, I learnt an important lesson: I shouldn’t have any expectations of her either. She is a child. She is learning, stumbling, finding her way through life the best way she can. While I can guide her, help her understand right from wrong, I cannot prevent every mistake she makes. In fact, I shouldn’t.
And that was the final lesson in letting go and for this, I shall quote my favourite extract from Khalil Gibran:
‘Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
~ From ‘The Prophet’ by Khalil Gibran
I don’t have parenting all figured out. I’d be lying if I said otherwise. Every day throws up a new challenge and when I am in the right frame of mind, I can tackle this all with a clear head. Sometimes, though, life gets in the way and I need reminders that we are all trying our best.
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I was writing about the exact same thing. The twins were away on their very first out of town picnic and I found out first hand how very hard letting go can be. The anxiety is terrible. But I’m glad, so glad I let them go. I see them growing more responsible, more caring of each other when I leave them alone.
I know. Gy has been away on overnight camps since she was six so this should have come easily to me. But somehow it didn’t. I don’t know why. Perhaps the fact that she’s at a tricky stage of adolescence and I’m not sure how to handle it? Sigh, I hope this gets easier. But you’re right. She definitely shows more responsibility the more I let go and stop hovering. So there’s that.
I understand a part of this and am yet to experience a few. This is a lovely post, Shailaja. Letting go is one of the toughest things as a parent. We have to find the balance between being around them and yet not being overprotective.
So true, Varsha. I doubt I’d ever find that perfect balance anyway. Going to keep stumbling and doing the best I can.
Very nice Shailaja. I could relate to every single one of those scenarios – twice over – for my daughter and son. And it doesn’t get easier the second time round, it gets harder.
Sigh, that should be comforting, Suzy. And maybe some day soon I can see the wisdom in letting it all go. At the moment, I’m floundering though.
Thank you so much for the kind words.
I remember reading about letting go in one of Tulika’s post a while ago. I said then that as it is I find it hard to let go of my younger sister who is an adult, just four years younger to me. How will I ever let go of M?
Well, I guess, I’ll turn to your posts for some support when the time comes because I just cannot imagine letting go of her π
M is still tiny and dependant on you for a lot π So you have time to go. But yes, there will come a time when you have to let go. Will be tough, mind you, but being aware of it is important. And hey, my posts and my Whatsapp are always here π
This is such a lovely post Shailaja … adding your anecdotes makes it all the more heartwarming. I am still at the stage of parenting a 3 year old for whom I mean the world as she hasnβt seen anything beyond her home, but I am painfully aware I will have to let go one day.
Thank you so much, Akshata π You have LOTS of time to let go, so don’t worry π Enjoy the good moments and vent about the not-so-great ones. We’ve all been there. π
Letting go is the toughest thing one has to do as a parent. Every step of the way we worry about them. With the older son now doing so much on his own, I am slightly more confident with the younger son. Also, his elder brother is there to handhold him which is easy on all our nerves. But what is playing on my mind currently is how little time I will have with them with the older son already through 10th. A couple of years more before he flies the nest. I don’t know if anything in this world will prepare me for it. I know it will have to be done but God it is so tough!
Yes, true. G has S has a role model, doesn’t he? π Empty nest syndrome is already gnawing at my mind even though that’s some time away. Parenting is tough, I tell you!
Reading your parenting posts is going to help me in quite a few ways where my two nephews is concerned. Will remember this one, for sure!
Thank you, Shy!
So glad to hear that, Shilpa π You make for a cool aunt π
If only my parents had read this post while I was growing up, I wouldn’t have to break free and be the rebel that I am today.
As usual, I’ll be forwarding this post to all parents I know.
Hugs. Thanks a lot, Soumya. As always π
Wow so much anxiety as a parent while on the other side the child is stamping her foot in frustation over your protectiveness!! I still do it with my mom as I feel she loves to “bubblewrap” me – I hate it and yearn for my freedom!!
Two sides of the same coin – now which one is right; I wonder!!!
Ha ha, I know, Shalini π The stamping her foot is not for my over protectiveness, by the way. It’s because she doesn’t get to waste time when she should be working π Also, I believe any relationship is a matter of give and take. so there is no right or wrong here. We work with what we have.
Letting go is hard… Specially for parents. My mom still can’t let go and worries every minute of the day. I always tell her the same thing about making mistakes. Let my siblings make their own mistakes and learn from it… Tgat is something you cannot teach. I really loved this post. I know it would be hard for you let Gy go out and about herself, but that’s how she is become street smart.
Thanks Shailaja for talking about such an important topic! I recently realized that letting go is the most important task for every parent. My son is only 2 years old. Last summer I bought him a balanced bike, and he learned to ride it very fast. When walking in the park I often lost sight of him when he was riding behind bushes or trees. It was making my heart stop as I was so worried he may fall off or hurt himself.
But I learned a few important lessons from your article and I plan to start changing my attitude from now on!
We as parents sacrifice our sleep, time, health and money to raise our kids and do our best to make them happy and try to provide them the best life. But the new generation only understands our sacrifices when they reach our age and become parents and realize how it is to be parents.