When All Else Fails, Be Grateful.

Parenting - Letting Them Be: The Importance of Giving Children the Freedom to Be Themselves

“Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.” – Kahlil Gibran

Parenting is one of the most profound journeys a person can take, filled with love, joy, fear, and responsibility. As parents, we often feel the weight of shaping our children’s future — guiding them, teaching them, protecting them. But somewhere along the way, it's vital to recognise an even greater responsibility: letting them be who they truly are.

Letting Go with Love: A Parent's Story of Trusting the Journey 💛

Being a single parent — trying to be both Mum and Dad — comes with its own unique set of challenges 😓. It’s a delicate balancing act between protector, nurturer, guide, and cheerleader. One of the deepest challenges I’ve faced is learning when to hold on… and when to let go 🤲.

When my son Jesse was figuring out what he wanted to do after school, I naturally encouraged him toward engineering 🏗️. We had spent years renovating our home together, and he’d always loved building things. But I thought engineering might offer more — less physical stress, higher income, better long-term prospects 💼.

He seemed to agree — or at least, he said he did.

We worked hard to lift his grades 📚. Not because he wasn’t capable, but because university required a little more. I met with teachers and the school principal, carefully mapping out a pathway for him to get into engineering. I was so focused on helping him succeed, I didn’t stop to truly ask: “Is this what Jesse really wants?” 🤔

Six months into his engineering prep, Jesse sat me down and said: “I’m over it.” He didn’t want to sit behind a desk. He wanted to be outside again, building with his hands like we used to 👷‍♂️🛠️.

At first, I was surprised. Then I remembered something from my own youth — the day I told my dad I didn’t want to be a hairdresser anymore ✂️. I wanted something different, something mine. And suddenly, I saw Jesse’s story through a much clearer lens. History was repeating itself — and this time, I was the parent on the other side.

Letting Go Isn’t Giving Up — It’s Growing Up 🌱

Jesse now runs a thriving building business 🧱. He’s successful, passionate, and fulfilled. Sure, he gets a sore back now and then, but he owns his journey — both the wins and the stumbles 💪. And that’s what matters most.

As parents, we often want to shield our kids from pain or mistakes 😔. But sometimes, our vision of what’s “best” can blur their truth. Letting go doesn’t mean walking away — it means trusting what you’ve taught, and allowing them to walk their own path 🚶‍♂️✨.

Trust Over Fear 🤝❤️

What struck me most is that Jesse wasn’t afraid to tell me the truth. That honesty came from a relationship built on trust, not fear 🙌. And that means everything.

When our children can talk to us without worrying about disappointing us, we’ve done something right. That kind of connection lasts far longer than grades or career titles. It’s the foundation of a bond that grows stronger with time 💬🧡.

Final Thought 💭

The greatest gift we can give our children isn’t the “right” career, or a smooth path — it’s the freedom to be themselves 🎁. To try, to fall, to rise again — and to know that we’ll be right beside them, cheering them on 👏🔥.

Let go — not because you’ve stopped caring, but because you care enough to let them fly 🕊️.

“To love your children is to set them free — not to walk away, but to walk beside them as they learn to walk their own path.”

Next Week - What Would Aliens Think of Us!

Jays Walk - What would aliens think of us. A dive into our current way of life on earth.

Mindfulness - Time for yourself - A practice in meditation.

Parenting - Which parent is right and are you the good one or the bad one?

Goal Setting - Finding your why.

Budgeting - Offset accounts, the what, why and how.

As always I wish you an amazing week lived in the present moment with purpose.

Best Parenting Fails!