This winter, Shelby's a skier, Daniel is a goalie. The weird thing, when we were new parents, we were so proud---they were such extensions of ourselves. If they learned a word or a skill, we felt like sources. Now...well...we know better. We know next to nothing about Nordic skiing or goal tending. We do plenty of facilitating, and we are grateful to others for helping us and teaching them, but it is up to the kids to learn, to dream, to work, to excel---or not. We're still proud, but in an admiring sort of way...because we fully realize that we can't actually take any of the credit.
(OK, there are moments when I have to talk myself down and remind myself it is not MY hockey game, or MY race....and usually I get there...!)
Have you read Kahlil Gibran...On Children? He was on to something....
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts......
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
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