On Letting Our Kids Go…
“I can’t believe you let your son get a motorcycle! I would never let my son do that.” My neighbor’s words landed on me in a way that made me question our parenting. Should we have forbid our 19-year old son from getting a motorcycle? I had warned him of all the safety risks, but in the end, he was an adult. He had worked hard and saved his money. He had taken motorcycle safety classes. After sharing with Noah the latest news report I had seen about a motorcycle accident, my husband gently said to me, “I think we’ve said enough. It’s his decision.”
The older our kids get, the more my hand is opened. Parenting is a process of continually letting go, and trusting the Lord with our children. When they’re young it’s easy to feel like we’re in control – from choosing their foods and activities to in some aspects, even their friends. We know what’s happening in their life from dawn until dusk- and can remind them to not forget their coat or their important papers. Yet as each stage of childhood and adolescence progresses, I’m more and more unaware of all that’s going on. From giving them the keys to the car after getting their license, to overnight trips to dropping them off at college, God is continuing to loosen my grip from my precious kids and helping me to trust him.
These last few weeks have been a whole new level of letting go. I watched my college-age son pack his military bags and board a plane to Alabama for Air Force field training. We hardly have any communication with him while knowing he’s likely walking through some of the hardest and most demanding physical and mental training. As I see the sweltering temperatures in the Alabama heat, I send up a prayer for his protection. When I wonder how he’s handling rigorous physical training, I ask the Lord to be his strength when he feels like there’s nothing left to give. I find myself thinking of him and praying for him multiple times throughout the day, fighting my fears with the promises of God.
Letting go of our kids and watching them spread their wings can be both joyful and fearful- even at the same time. With each new stage, God is teaching me that he is a better parent than I can ever be, and is worthy of my trust.