R is for RELEASE... Do I Hold On or Let Go!?

"Life is like a roller-coaster. You can either hang on for dear life and scream in terror, or you can put your hands up in the air and enjoy the ride." - Karne

This is a great image for me about my job as a parent of a teen and a young adult...  Wow.  As my kids get older, I find myself consciously deciding whether this is a "hold on" or a "let go" moment.

These are some of the perspectives and thoughts that I must release in order to let go of my child as they move into adulthood:

• My kids are not "mine"...  They are separate people with separate wishes, aspirations, dreams, challenges, destinies...
• My kids may be dependent in many ways but they are still creative, resourceful and whole.
• That even with the best parenting, kids will make mistakes.  These mistakes are to be lessons for them. 
• I keep looking for right answers.  The questions get more difficult and the answers are less clear.
• This is a crazy world to raise teens in and parenting from fears is the worst approach possible.
• As hard as my kids push to break away... we parents are still the most important people in their lives

So much of this parenting teens gig is about getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.

What do you need to release that will allow you to step into your role as a parent of a teen?

Where is your "letting go" challenge?

Got you thinking?  I hope so,

Ciao,

Anne

PS  R is for RELEASE...  This is the 2nd step in the GRACE process that I created to help center myself in the parenting chaos...  From chaos to calm.  Check out the book at the link above and you can buy it there if you'd like to have it as a parenting tool...

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