This week’s WordPress weekly photo challenge theme is OPPORTUNITY.
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It was already my son’s 3rd day in school on these pics. It was very difficult to prep him up in the morning. He didn’t want to get up from bed. He didn’t want to take a bath. He didn’t want to wear his uniform. In short, he didn’t want to go to school. He was constantly crying, just the thought that he was going to school.
I couldn’t blame him. He was not used to being away from his parents. For the last three years, we would always be there for him. His food would always be ready. We would always be there to assist him, to protect him. And now, he would be out there in school, far away from his parents.
As a parent, it actually hurts that I have to send him away, coz I always wanted him near. I always wanted him to be within our sight, because we knew he’s still unable to help and protect himself. And that being away, he might not get help when he needed it, that he might fall or hurt himself or another boy would push him, and that he’s going to be hurt. Or he might just be alone in one corner that nobody would play with him.
But loving one’s child doesn’t always mean that he should always be within our sight, within our reach. Loving your son/daughter means allowing him to explore the life out there, making him independent to prepare him for more challenges in the future. Loving him means giving him the OPPORTUNITY to let him use his little wings to fly. He might fall or stumble along the way, but that will always be part of his learning process.
And so I am keeping a promise for my son – that although it would hurt to just be on the sideline, and on standby – he will always be allowed to explore the life out there on his own, with kind persuasions and guidance from his parents. He can choose to be whatever he wanted to be, and his independence and sense of self will always be respected.
Yes, we will not be there for him always. And that’s because we love him and we wanted him to grow up with character.
A Dose A Day 
Nice Moment .
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Thanks for dropping by, JAKESPRINTER!
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Nice, and yes, it is so hard to let our kids go out there alone.
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Yup, you know the feeling too! thanks for coming over!
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Nelson, I just discovered your blog. Your writing has a flow to it that I like. Keep it up and make us Pinoys proud. 🙂
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Nice having you here, TITA BUDS!
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Your son is adorable!
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Thanks, MAGGIE! You’ll love him more on his blog… http://inigobautista.wordpress.com
Cheers! 😀
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That’s so fun that he has his own blog. I’m guessing he gets help though.
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Oh yes of course! I write for him 🙂 I’m wishing that he’ll continue blogging when he is old enough to write for himself. But that depends on whether he likes to or not 😀
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Great post 🙂
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Thanks!
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The opportunity to learn wonderfully captured – I was lucky, my son is usually excited about school and getting him out the door is not a problem. We walk there together. The transport enthusiast side of me enjoyed the bus too 🙂
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You were lucky indeed, as you didn’t had any problem getting your son to school. Actually, my son enjoys school now, so we don’t have the same problems as we had during the first week. He looks forward going to school in the morning, so prepping him up in the morning is not a hassle now. Cheers!
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Truer words have never been said. It is so hard to let the little ones go off on their own. I remember those first days of school. Now it is going off to walk with their friends. I know it is definitely harder at this age, 9 and 10, for me to say goodbye than for them. This is a good lesson, but sometimes hard to abide to: “Loving him means giving him the OPPORTUNITY to let him use his little wings to fly”. I am just happy though that my children know if their wings do not support them, I will be waiting there to hold them up.
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Very well said! Surely our little ones get their confidence to fly knowing we are just around. Thanks for dropping by!
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You are one sweet father …
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Thanks 😀
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thanks for sharing this touching story.
may your son make some good friends who will encourage his strengths and allow him to encourage theirs. may he play hard and laugh long. and may he learn all that he needs to know in school which will help him on his continued educational journey!
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Thanks! I wish for these too!
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This is heartbreaking but so beautiful. Happy days to you all!
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Thanks, Patti!
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I truly enjoy the type of topics you post right here. Thanks for sharing us an awesome information and facts that’s basically helpful.
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