Children Are Like Kites
You spend years trying to get them off the ground.
You run with them until you are both breathless. They crash … they hit the roof … you patch, comfort and assure them that someday they will fly.
Finally, they are airborne.
They need more string, and you keep letting it out.
They tug, and with each twist of the twine, there is sadness that goes with joy.
The kite becomes more distant, and you know it won’t be long before that beautiful creature will snap the lifeline that binds you together and will soar as meant to soar … free and alone.
Only then do you know that you have done your job.

Found this beautiful poem by Author Erma Bombeck and how true it is. This is how our relationship with our children should be.

I remember, for the first few weeks of his life, my son like all just needed to eat, poop and sleep. Slowly he had started turning to one side, then sitting, standing and walking. At first he’s was on his fours, and would be surprised how fast he would crawl and reach his subject of interest. Then, he had started standing with support. He would be able to stand for a few seconds and then would sit again. He would keep trying and we would encourage him. We would make him walk by holding hands and he would sit down after 3-4 steps. He took a long time to stand without support and at about 1 years, my extended joint family was all worried up. Then one day he stood up on his own without that support and soon, we were encouraging him to walk on his own. He would fall down, stand, try and finally one day when we didn’t expect, he got up and walked a few steps to pick up his flashy Jeep. Within next few months, he was walking, and we had to raise level of anything which he could pick up and enter in his mouth. Before we even realised he was running. We would be watchful as he was and still is the boy who has one bandage intact every few days. We call him Tripsy Gunjit. Now he does not need that watchful eye. This is true for every one of us and every aspect, be it eating, studying, sleeping, playing, learning any skill.

The parents are the anchor. They support their children, they fall with them and they start again till one day the children are able to be on their own.

Slowly as they grow older, they yearn for independence, for exploring the world around, for exploring themselves, they keep coming back to you, and once they have achieved their calling, your heart swells with pride.

Our parents did that for us, and we do for our children. The kites flying low and then going higher and higher once airborne.

I am participating in A2Z Blogging Challenge this April and this post is my entry for letter K.