Today was the last session of 'The Parenting Children' course. It had been an intense 5 weeks but we enjoyed the sessions, interacting and learning from each other. From observing the animated discussion that followed the talks, I believed the participants enjoyed the sessions too. (Otherwise they would not have attended week after week!)
Dad facilitated today's session "Our Long Term Aims". Joseph Wong and Jessie Fung, sitting with their respective discussion groups.
My discussion group participants are first time parents - with children ages 0 to 1 year.
Annie Wong with her discussion group
Dessert was Tong Yuan and curry puff - prepared by these 2 lovely ladies - Amy and Jenny.
Dad started the session with a quote from the late Erma Bombeck. Erma Bombeck made an analogy of Raising Kids with Flying Kites . Dad actually added these photo's of him flying kite with his grandson in his power point presentation.
"You
start by trying to get the little craft off the ground, and sometimes you
wonder if it's going to make it. You're running down the road as fast as you can with this awkward kite flapping
in the wind behind you. Sometimes it crashes to the ground, so you tie on a longer tail and try it
again.
Suddenly it catches a little gust of wind and flies dangerously close to the power lines.
Your heart is pounding as you survey the risk, but then without warning the kite begins to tug on the string as it ascends into the sky.
You release your grip little by little, and sooner than you expected, you come to the end of the twine.
You stand on tiptoe holding the last inch between your thumb and forefinger.Then reluctantly, you let go, permitting the kite to soar unfettered and independent in God's blue heaven. It's an exhilarating and terrifying moment, and one that was ordained from the day of the child's birth.
With this final release, your task as a parent is finished.The kite is free, and so, for the first time in twenty years, are you."
As I listened to Dad speaking, I reflected on our boys going to start their own families and I felt a tug at my heartstrings. We have prepared them for healthy independence (we hope) and now they will have to catch their own wind to soar on their own.
Dad ended the session with this beautiful song - and I sighed, I recalled with nostalgia, the day our daughter said : "I do.." to the man we prayed for her since her childhood..
Suddenly it catches a little gust of wind and flies dangerously close to the power lines.
Your heart is pounding as you survey the risk, but then without warning the kite begins to tug on the string as it ascends into the sky.
You release your grip little by little, and sooner than you expected, you come to the end of the twine.
You stand on tiptoe holding the last inch between your thumb and forefinger.Then reluctantly, you let go, permitting the kite to soar unfettered and independent in God's blue heaven. It's an exhilarating and terrifying moment, and one that was ordained from the day of the child's birth.
With this final release, your task as a parent is finished.The kite is free, and so, for the first time in twenty years, are you."
As I listened to Dad speaking, I reflected on our boys going to start their own families and I felt a tug at my heartstrings. We have prepared them for healthy independence (we hope) and now they will have to catch their own wind to soar on their own.
Dad ended the session with this beautiful song - and I sighed, I recalled with nostalgia, the day our daughter said : "I do.." to the man we prayed for her since her childhood..
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