Raising kids- the letting go moment

This is a bit of shameless self-promotion, along with a hope of offering encouragement to you parents.

I wrote this article a few years ago as my older kids were transitioning out of the house. It was kind of how I processed the transition, maybe a little of how I learned how to let go and appreciate who they were growing up to be.

But it's become a bit of the fabric of how I view the world, and how I continue to raise my younger ones. Maybe there are a few of those "life lessons in parenting" that I wish someone had told me about.

I wrote it from my very limited viewpoint- that of a builder.

My wife did me the honor of plugging it into her website recently, which I am linking to here. You won't find much testosterone, cars, or racing in her site (so I doubt most of you will want to surf there too much), but there's lots of encouragement some of your wives might enjoy (and a few killer recipes). Feel free to share!

Thanks for indulging me.

My article on parenting from a builder's perspective

Great article, thank you for sharing that! As a father of three young boys, it definitely rings true!

As a father-substitute for many fosters, and a father to be in a couple of short months, thank you. Awesome perspective.

Good article.

I'd argue that in today's world it is fairly easy to see the kids with a good foundation. It's also just as easy to see those kids with a crappy foundation. In the end if the foundation you started doesn't support the house it will be pretty clear.

But this coming from a father of a soon to be 4 year old and one on the way. I was hoping the article was going to say they never grow up...

Great article!! As the father of three, I couldn't agree more. My kids are all elementary school age, and they each have their strong points and their challenges. My wife often can get very worked up over some of the choices they make and the things they do. I share the same philosophy as SVreX...we can only build the foundation. They have to build the rest and decorate. I always tell my wife that our job is teach them right from wrong, demonstrate the behaviors we want from them (though sometimes that's a challenge for me...), and teach them proper values. What they do with that foundation we show them is out of our control.

octavious, I'm with you, I was hoping the article would say they never grow up. I know the time will come when my kids leave home and all I can do is hope I raised them right (built the proper foundation). But I know it'll be tough for me, I'm very close with all my kids. I can't even imagine the thought of walking my daughter down the aisle...

Loved your article, thanks for sharing.

octavious wrote: I was hoping the article was going to say they never grow up...

Some never do.

Which is significantly scarier than coming to terms with them growing up and learning to let go.

SVreX wrote:

octavious wrote: I was hoping the article was going to say they never grow up...

Some never do. Which is significantly scarier than coming to terms with them growing up and learning to let go.

Having seen the fallout from failure to grow up in my sister's kids, I heartily endorse this statement.

Thanks for that.