See the picture above? Those are my son’s things he has decided will be going with him to Singapore, where he has chosen to serve his NS (National Service). See my post from July regarding his graduation and NS.
It’s a milestone and quite a big one. Many have been asking how we, as parents, feel about him leaving the nest.
Well, there’s a part of me who can not believe he’s already at this stage of his life, there’s another part of me who is very proud that he has come this far, yet another part of me is uncertain. Uncertain of how I would navigate this change, manage the physical distance and balance mothering while giving him the space to fully become the young adult he needs to be.
I turn to others who have already walked this path and to God who is my constant guide through life.
Another question friends ask us is what we would do now, as empty-nesters. A friend related how his parents told him they had to relearn how to just be a married couple again. I guess that might be one part of it.
It will be an adjustment but it will also be an opportunity for us to move into different roles. By this I mean, we will always be his parents but our role will shift gears into being advisers rather than direct influencers. I feel it would probably be the same in our relationship as a married couple; we would move from being parents first to giving priority to being a partner for each other.
I am sad yet excited, proud yet ambivalent, wanting to reach for the future while still holding onto memories.
For now, I tell myself to remain cool and calm and tell you, with my heart at busting point, my boy passed his driving test and can now legally drive! Another milestone – what else can a parent be but proud 😀
syc
trippingdifferently 