Watching your children grow is tough - but one mum looks upon it as flying
As a mother-of-four, Rebecca, has had her fair share of panic moments, reiterating 'be careful' on numerous occasions.
Her family's active lifestyle brings them to cliff and forest trails, leading the mum to worry as she watches her children explore.
"Watching these kids climb, explore and push their limits isn’t always easy for me. I’ve uttered my fair share of 'be carefuls' when they get uncomfortably close to an edge or want to push ahead on the trail and venture out of sight."
"I’m often struck by the precarious balance between wanting to keep these kiddos safe and protected, on the one hand, and allowing them to fly, on the other."
However, while she understands that it's tough to stand by and watch, she knows they have to learn to fly, it's part and parcel of the growing up process.
Seeing her children flourish together brings the mum-of-four comfort, content in the belief they can learn from one another.
"I believe that tackling challenging adventures side by side helps them learn valuable skills that can translate into real life."
"We climbed rocks today. We crossed creeks. We ducked through tunnels and balanced on fallen trees – all the while learning lessons in problem solving, trust, and perhaps biggest of all – the belief that we can do hard things."
Sometimes while we want nothing more than to wrap our kids in cotton wool, it's more beneficial to allow them conquer the world, step by step, in preparation for what lies ahead.
In return it may give our children the belief to know they can overcome anything life throws at them, as Rebecca quotes:
"To raise a child, who is comfortable enough to leave you, means you've done your job. They are not ours to keep, but to teach them to soar on their own."
Some food for thought today mums; how do you feel about letting your children soar so early in life?