Exercise in Letting Go......

Today, my baby girl decided to get all growed up and do this for the first time......

What an achingly sad and beautiful picture of a parents' journey as we watch our kids grow up....as parents, we let go, painfully aware that letting them go means allowing our kids to fail and experience pain.  Letting go means we lose more control of their lives.  We simultaneously experience the joy that comes from knowing our children are moving towards capability and independence in this world and the gnawing voice that whispers to us that we're not needed anymore.

Anyway, this post is not about a weepy mom, but her determined and happy 4-year-old.  She asked me to help her get on her bike, and once she was on, she started pedalling, drove straight off the driveway and onto the road with her mom, dad and brother running after her, laughing and hollering "Way to go, Taelyn!", and "Get off the road", and "Woohoo!" and "Watch out for that tree!". Big excitement.

Note the determined little lip.....

And cheering her on was her very encouraging, excited big brother!