To me, there nothing so sacred an office as parenthood.
But with every superpower, comes the great weight of responsibility.
Helping someone get from here…
…to here.
It’s the most daunting…
…most joyful…
..most challenging position I’ve ever held.
The job description is clear. When they are tiny, love them.
Nurture them.
Love them some more.
We have a few short years to raise and guide them, and allow them to find their own way to shine.
To help them acquire the skills they need to paddle their own canoe.
To allow them to test their wings.
To give them every opportunity to make decisions and exercise their own power.
Even so, one of the greatest challenges we have as parents is to let them grow up.
A few years ago, with the kids’ encouragement, we stepped out of our comfort zone into the Amazon jungle.
To ride a zip-line over the jungle canopy we had to reach a platform 125 feet above the jungle floor. Instead of letting our guide use pulleys and ropes to haul them up, they insisted on pulling themselves up, step by step.
As they dangled from a single rope a hundred feet up, I thought of the book Charlotte’s Web. Charlotte considered her egg sac, from which her babies hatched, her ‘magnum opus.’ One by one, the baby spiders spun a fine web into a tiny balloon and rode the breeze, floating off into the world to land somewhere and build a web of its own.
I couldn’t have been prouder–or more relieved–when they climbed to the top under their own power.
We have all traveled well together…
…but children must be free to choose their own direction, just as we did when we were young.
I quell my panic when one of my chicks…
..leaves the safety of the home harbor.
I trust them to stay calm, exercise good judgement, weather the storms…
…and any other unforeseen dangers.
We cut them loose from the mother ship, then hope and pray they find a soft landing place…
…and a bright future.
And that, every now and then, they remember to phone home.
All words and images ©2015NaomiBaltuck
Click here for more interpretations of The Weekly Photo Challenge: Weight (less).
Writing Between the Lines 
I haven’t been around for ages so may have missed your posts. As always this one warms my heart and I smile like a mother bird, serene, knowing, and nodding.
This is another fantastic post only you can illustrate with such care and make us feel all the emotions. Thank you. My daughter is married with two ducklings and is 37.More of my heartstrings added to her babies. Yes are but 8 and 12 and I DO try to let them fly but I am old school and it’s hard but I shan’t interfere…just watch and enjoy, or pick them up if need be.
Happy New Year to all of you. You’re all a breath of fresh air to me. ❤ ❤ ❤
Dear Tess, It is so good to hear from you! Thank you, as always, for your kind words of encouragement. I smiled and nodded when I read your comment, “I smile like a mother bird, serene, knowing, and nodding.”
I think it will be a while if or when I have grandchildren–how wonderful that you are there for them and they for you! Wishing you and your duckies all the best for the New Year, Tess!
Thank you, Naomi. Much appreciated. My grand girls are growing so fast…or is it time that’s moving too fast? 😀
One of these days, you’ll be the favorite grandma. ❤ ❤ ❤
You are a lucky lady, Tess! I was a late bloomer, and I suspect my kids will be too. I just hope that the grandkids come along while I can still build spaceships and go on Away Missions with them!
I was a late bloomer as well, but somehow life worked out well. ❤
There is a time for everything. Yes?
I’m so glad it did, Tess! Maybe being a late bloomer isn’t so bad, because by the time we’re ready to settle down we have a better idea of who we are and what we want.
Always love how you do your posts. I’m finding it hardest now with 2 grown children who are married. Letting go, not interfering with their parenting can be very challenging. Their idea of happiness might not be ours, sometimes hard to accept. A phone call home is very nice!
Hi Lisa,
The dynamics certainly change when the kids grow into adulthood. “Their Idea of happiness might not be ours” is really an astute observation. We’ve still managed to find times to travel and spend time together, but every trip I know could be the last as they have grownup jobs and commitments and relationships. I treasure every moment! Thanks for the visit–Happy New Year to the whole family!
Very touching. Sweet as can be.
Dear Lee,
Thanks for the visit, and for the sweet words. Give all your ‘babies’ a hug for me!
Love,
Naomi
This is such a beautiful post. Thank you again Naomi,your words and pictures are always extraordinary. To “let them fly” the most important action …yet so painful. We all wish for “soft ” landings.
Dear Jane,
How good to hear from you. Thanks for visiting, and taking the time to share your thoughts. Wishing you and your whole family a Happy New Year, and may all your landings be soft ones!
Delightful! What a sweet thumb-sucking face!
Thank you! It makes me smile and sigh to recall the sweetness of that magical time. Every age brings new adventures, and in many ways the possibilities just get better and better as your children grow into such capable beings with whom you can share adventures and complex thoughts and ideas. But there is something so tender, so visceral–indescribable–about the bond with your babies that requires no words, a relationship based solely on love and trust.
In my dreams, my children are always toddlers and babies. My subconscious is very much still working with that visceral bond. I wonder if that’s about being anxious whether I’m worthy of that?
Well done — the parenting and the blogging ❤
Thank you, Mary! Happy New Year, dear friend!
Happy New Year to you and yours. ❤
Hope you give your children a copy of this. It is a treasure for them and you. Job well done.
My daughter just put quotes from me in her graduate school application. It brought tears.
Hi Carol,
That your daughter should quote you in her application such a compliment, and it speaks to the kind of relationship you have. Well done. Best wishes to your daughter in grad school, and Happy New Year to your whole family. Thanks so much for your very kind thoughts and words.
Perfect! We work to teach them to become responsible, independent adults, loving them, enjoying them – then they turn around and are those responsible, independent adults and venture out on their own. Say what? What did I do?!
Isn’t that the way? But it’s a very good sign that your adventurous birdies keep coming home to share new adventures with you and each other. I’ve told the kids that I will come and visit them wherever they go, and I know they love the Pacific Northwest and will always come home, at least to visit. Nowadays it is easy and inexpensive to maintain good communication almost anywhere in the world, thank goodness! Bea and I still edit each other’s writing, and Eli and I are planning a spring break reunion by messaging and email and Skype. Thanks so much for the visit and for sharing your perspective. Sending my best wishes for a Happy New Year, Carol!
Warmly,
Naomi
All wonderful pic and observations. I love this one. Of course my personal favorite pic is of your whole family, Harry & Eleanor and the kids. Beautiful as you are.
Howdy, Cuz! Thanks so much for the visit and the kind words. I couldn’t resist throwing in my Dad’s handiwork. Best wishes for a Happy New Year to you and your whole beautiful family!
Great parenting memento! Naomi.
Love Meg
I really loved the connection you made with “Charlotte’s Web” This post also made me appreciate what must have been on my folks’ mind when I migrated to Australia all those years ago! There are More dimensions to love than I knew at the time. You know. I used to somber about that heart sign you made with your fingers…. You’ve just shown what you mean here!
Thank you, Meg! Oh, my gosh, I can only imagine what it must have been like. But you always went back to visit your folks and, most importantly, they knew you were strong, independent, responsible, and careful, so they didn’t have to worry too much about your well being. But, yes, loving someone means being willing to let them go if that’s what they need to do.
Beautiful post. I believe that you have reason to be optimistic.
Thank you, Shimon, for the visit, and for the smile. I love your way with words!
Naomi this is a wonderful post, what a great parent you are 😀
Thanks for the visit, Gilly. I think I was really fortunate–Thom was a good Daddy, and the kids’ natural temperaments were so laid back and easy, which helped make parenting so much easier than it could’ve been. Happy New Year!
A beautiful montage of photos representing the process of parenting. This was a heartwarming post, Naomi.
Hope your New Year 2016 is filled with more love than your heart can hold.
May your family and you continue to enjoy the sweet blessings of life.
Isadora 😎
Thank you, Isadora! Best wishes to you and your whole family for the New Year!
Warmly,
Naomi
Beautiful post. I think your babies are going to do well. 🙂
Thank you, Naomi! So far, so good! Best wishes for the New Year to you and your family!
This is such a beautiful post, Naomi. I always enjoy your stunning photographs.
Happy New Year to you and your lovely family!
Thank you, Jill. Wishing you and your family a very happy 2016!
When I was younger and had small children I was asked by a person (who thought stay-at-home mothers were lazy) what I did for a living. I told them I produce and develop the world’s most valuable resource. They were really impressed and asked me what the worlds most valuable resource was. I said, ‘children’ 😀
I love you posts, Naomi xxxx
Dear Dianne,
Thank you so much for sharing your story, and it’s perfect ending. My daughter told her teacher, “My mommy has three jobs. She’s a writer and a storyteller and a mommy. And she likes being a mommy best of all.” I couldn’t have said it better myself!
I really enjoy your posts as well. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement, Dianne.
Best wishes to you and all your little chicks for a Happy New Year.
Warmly,
Naomi
Wonderful post, Naomi.
It’s a helluva lot easier said than done.
Thank you, Jean. At some point we can only cross our fingers and hope for the best! Thanks so much for the visit–I hope you are well, and that your new year is too!
So true!
Thanks for your good wishes.
Enjoyed your photos and story. As a parent, I can identify with all those emotions.
Thank you for the visit, Patti, and for sharing your response. Best wishes to the whole family!
Ah, yes! ET- please phone home 🙂 It’s obvious you’ve done a great job with yours, Naomi. They’ll always stay close, even when they roam.
Thanks for the visit, and the very kind words, Jo. I do take it as a good sign that they like to come home, and even an better one when they are still willing to come travel with their parents! Best wishes to you and your kids!
Awwww! love this post to bits. This is exactly what my parents let me do just that they dont have such cool pics :)! Thanks for sharing
Thanks so much for the visit, and for sharing your very kind response. I’m so glad you have such cool parents!
Aggreed, parenthood is a privledge and a huge responsibility. It is also very difficult and immensely rewarding.
Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
So true.