Yesterday, my 13 yo waved goodbye as she strode confidently through airport immigration towards the departure gate. She would make a solo journey towards her dream of making music in the land of The Sound of Music. Her young friends all have doting mothers or both parents with them.

Oh the questions I have had to answer. “How can you allow your young child to travel alone?” Simple. I can and I did. She’s fast growing up and she’s with people she knows and I trust. “How can you let her play in her first competition by herself without you there?” Well, I can and I did. She can only play alone anyway and she’ll be fine with her years of experience playing in orchestras and solo. There are many ‘first time’ occasions in all our lives and I have been there most times.  ”What if something happens and you are not there?” Sigh. If something happens, it will happen whether I am there or not. Why worry about ‘what if’? I have long taught her the suite of  ’what-to-do-in-case-of’ drills. And so on …

The unspoken question was really ‘what kind of mother are you that you would allow a young child to travel so far away without you?’  The kind of mother who needs to work really hard to afford her kid’s dream. More importantly, the kind of mother who has worked really really hard to teach the child to fend for herself, to be good and kind, to eat and sleep well, to work and play hard, to love and laugh much,  to pick herself up and try again when she falls, and to know that Mama will always be there when she needs her. And you know what? The kid really does not need me with her on this trip. I know because she told me so.

Like a bird who just discovered her wings, she is ready to fly. She is safe in the company of others around her. She wants to savor her independence. She is excited by the wonder of a dream come true. She is growing up. It is time to let go – for her to test her wings, to taste her freedom, and to feel secure in herself and the love that envelops her.

And so, I waved goodbye to the kid, blew her a kiss and went to the airport bookstore to browse for a while. Then I drove homeward, planning what I would do differently in the next 3 weeks while she is away. Everyday will be a good day – for my precious young lady and for me too!

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