Parenting: You’ll Be Amazed At What Kids Can Do On Their Own
Parents sometimes have a hard time letting go of their children. It’s hard to watch them grow into young adults, require less of their parents, and become more independent. Most children seem in a hurry to spread their wings, but sometimes it’s the kids that have a hard time letting go.
My son needed a physical to sign up for his high school’s golf team. He made the decision a bit late, and thus we had less than a week to complete the physical, and get the proper paperwork filled out. The only time slot our medical clinic had available before the deadline was during his open hour at school the following Monday.
“Are you coming with me?†my son asked me.
“Do you need me to?†I responded.
“It would be kind of strange if you didn’t,†he stated.
What he really meant was, one of his parents had gone with him to every doctor’s appointment in his life and he would be more comfortable if one of us went. He was unsure if he would know what to do. A quick check of my calendar revealed that I had meetings, and my wife is unable to leave work. He would have to go on his own. I assured him that all he had to do was walk in, and check in at the desk. He also verified that he knew how to get there.
As expected, his doctor’s appointment went smoothly.
A few days later, he reminded me that he needed new shoes. I had asked him several times to come with me as I was going to the mall, or most recently a nearby shoe store to get new running shoes. Every time I asked, he was consumed with some other activity. This time, however, I was busy and could not go.
“Do you need me to come with you?†I asked.
‘I guess I could look on my own,†he said reluctantly.
I told him to buy the shoes with his own money, and I would transfer money into his account to reimburse.
As expected, he successfully bought a pair of shoes on his own.
Parents know that their kids will grow up and become independent. As hard as it is to accept, not only do we know that it must happen, we know that we must make it happen.
Brought to you courtesy of Brock
Brock is a software engineer by day and personal finance blogger at night. He is a fitness junkie and enjoys grilling and smoking meat. Married with two children, Brock strives to improve his skills as a husband and father, and is always on the lookout to stretch his family’s budget as far as he can.
Great post, that reminded me of the first time I rode a 2-wheel bicycle alone. My father had coaxed me onto the seat and coached me on how to pedal. He assured me that it was easy to learn, and gave me a gentle shove forward, steadying the bike with his hand on the rear fender as he trotted along with me and instructed, “just keep pedaling.” I did. As we picked up speed I was exhilarated that it WAS easy, with dad’s reassuring hand on the bike. A few minutes later, I stated this aloud to dad. Getting no answer, I repeated, “this IS easy, dad!” When there still was no reply, I turned to make eye contact with dad and was astonished to see him standing about 100 feet behind me with a big grin. In this case, it was the kid who was amazed at what he was able to do alone.
@Richard – Exactly! Sometimes all kids need is just a little push and they’ll do the rest themselves!