31.7.11

Change: Growing Up & Flying The Coop

“The day the child realizes that all adults are imperfect, he becomes an adolescent; the day he forgives them, he becomes an adult; the day he forgives himself, he becomes wise.” Alden Nowlan

Change: Growing Up & Flying The Coop
 Soon, by the end of the summer, my babies will pack their bags and head for college; entering a new phase of their lives. It seems like only last week when they were little tykes in diapers, maneuvering their way around our home, learning about the world and curious about all in it. Before we knew it, they were in pre-school, then kindergarten, followed by 11 years of rigorous academic training, culminating in their HS diploma which they received in June. Change, as we all know it, is inevitable, yet, as I stood in awe at graduation, I couldn’t believe that this day had finally arrived. I had to pinch myself to recognize that, like every other parent there, our little ones had crossed a bridge; they were growing up and flying the coop. This week, we have The Prompt:  A moment you realized your child was growing up via MamaKat’s Writers Workshop.

 As I looked around at the graduating class, there were the kids I knew from way back when I was heavily involved, with many of their moms, in the PTSA. There were kids who were my wards during our brief foray into the Girls Scouts. There were kids I chaperoned on school trips or picnics. The shy mousy girls had blossomed into teenage divas, and the tow headed little boys were now tall and confident Adonis’ with big dreams in their hearts. My two have grown and join their classmates eager to explore the world and learn new things. Where, oh where did the time go?   I say  this in awe of the speed with which Mother Time propels us forward to meet new days, make changes great and small, and add our lot to the whole; destined or not.  How has it been for you?
PS*** Stacey of Survey Junkie Blog has generously added me as a Guest Host for this week's Follow Me Back Tuesday Blog Hop. Please join in and spread the love! Many Thanks Stacey! :-) More on blog hop and link-up below :-)

“In this day and age, some turn 18 and think they're a man or a woman and that's it, but that's just not true. You have to establish your manhood or your womanhood with actions.”  Orlando McGuire 


Change: Growing Up & Flying The Coop
 I realized my babies were growing up when they found summer internships and commuted daily into the city on the train, ready to work hard like the adults who routinely travel this route. Even though they were not being paid, they took their internships very seriously and learned as much about the jobs as they did about the neighborhoods where the jobs were located. They ate lunch at work, made a few acquaintances and got to explore NYC; the city that never sleeps. It brought back memories of my young days alone in the city, when I had flown my parental coop and moved to the USA for college and the prospects of a new life; it is a time of both anxiety and joy, of wistfulness and surrender to the change process. 

Now, as my twins get ready to head off to college, I am acutely aware that, once more, major change is upon us; just like the day they were born, seizing our hearts and holding us willing captives, it will continue to do so for many, many more years.  Naturally, our prayer is that they and their peers will thrive and grow into responsible, God driven adults eager to share their gifts with the world. It is our prayer for every young adult; once a twinkle in their parents’ eyes ... After all, change is nature’s way of keeping us fresh and productive. What memories do you hold about you or your child flying the coop? How did you cope? Do share ;-)
 
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This post was inspired by a prompt from MamaKat's WritersWorkshop: A moment you realized your child was growing
.
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS:  All Photographs: Graduation Hat Toss, Graduation, via Wikipedia   

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive.
© Elizabeth Obih-Frank 



30 comments:

  1. What a sweet post! I haven't had children yet. But as a former child, it is interesting to see the 'flying the coop' stage from a parent's perspective...

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  2. Hi! Hope you are doing great! Wonderful post. I am a college student so I cannot relate as far as being a parent & have your children grow up & go off for college because I'm not a parent yet. I can only imagine it must be tough because where did the time go? It all goes by so fast. From my point of view it seemed only yesterday I was in preschool, & now I'm a college student, well not literally lol, but it seems like each year flies by so fast.

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  3. Thank you Rosa, It is a fascinating transition and one that seems to appear rather suddenly; even after imagining or semi-planning for it for years... Thanks for stopping by. :-)

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  4. La Vita,
    Thank you for your comment! Yes, it does go by fast and then the kids become adults with their own families... I am happy for my kids and equally amazed at the shift in focus. Best wishes with your studies...
    Eliz

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  5. My little guy is only 4 right now, it's hard to think of him graduating! Right now, kindergarten is scaring me!

    I am your newest follower from FMBT hop. Have a wonderful Tuesday! :)

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  6. Hi!!! I'm stopping by and following from Follow Me Back Tuesday. I hope you'll check out my blog Frazzled Mama at http://frazzled-mama.com and follow me back. Hope you have a great day.

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  7. Thank you Laura, I will follow you back... times does fly and soon he'll be in college.

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  8. Hi Frazzled mama, I will follow you back. Thanks for the follow. :-)

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  9. hi i'm a new follower from the hop,would be great if you could follow back?

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  10. Hi,thanks for following my blog. I'm following you back
    http://freedelicacies.blogspot.com

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  11. Thank you Christine,
    I have followed you back!
    Elizabeth

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  12. Thank you Asiadeli and Claire,
    I have followed you back! ;-)

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  13. Hi there!

    Followed you here from FMBT, hope you can follow me back at

    http://www.8myall.com/flexi-sched-and-work-life-balance/

    Thank you.

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  14. Hi, I'm a follower from the Follow Me Tuesday Blog Hop, and would love for you to visit my blog at http://dosweatthesmallstuffblog.blogspot.com/ and follow back :)

    My daughter will be attending first grade in a few days, and already I am feeling sentimental that my baby girl's is not a baby anymore. I can't imagine when it'll be my turn to see her graduating for college. Having said that, congratulations on your twins' graduation! I'm sure it was such a bittersweet experience for you...

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  15. Hi, thanks for following. I can't find the link to your GFC. There is a Fabulous Followers but the link doesn't show.

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  16. Thank you so much for stopping by "Mama Leisha!" I'm returning the follow! THank you for creating such a positive blog!

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  17. Really ecclectic blog...gonna be visiting again!
    Loving all the sites I am find during this hop. So fun…
    Followed youall and hope you’ll do the same!
    And thanks
    cathy

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  18. Reading this, I recalled the moment I went to high school - the preparations, the new clothes, the anticipation, the excitement.
    Going abroad to university was different, maybe because by then I was older and had sort of flown the coop a few years before.
    What will you do now that your babies are out in the world?

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  19. Thank you everyone for your comments. I will make sure to follow up on all who participated in the hop soon. Have a wonderful upcoming weekend... I hope the earthquake didn't rattle you. :-)
    Cheers,
    Eliz

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  20. brinkka2011 says: Thanks so much for posting all of the good content! I am looking forward to reading more.

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  21. That is great content I loved it

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  22. I can so relate to this sweet post of you as a parent, because I do have my children in college at this moment, but only one of them went from home and lives on his own. I was planning to ask you on facebook when you do expect your children to go to college and decided to read your last posts first. Now you can have more time for your own dreams again. I so enjoyed the way you explained your thoughts about this transfromation. Thanks for sharing
    Deana

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  23. Time flies... my babies have flown the nest and are now young independent men.. Some how I still see them as my babies and still call them monkeys... always have and will always do...

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  24. I remember those days very vividly... My babe are all grown up and living a life of their doing, choosing... No matter how far they are... I still remember the time when they grew up...

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  25. This is a lovely blog, I chanced upon it from Vivian Kirkfield's blog. I am following you now. Thanks for spreading positive energy! Iam a new mom and I often wonder about how fast time flies by too. The Alden Nowlan quote to me seems more approapriate with the correction of “The day the child realizes that all adults are imperfect, he becomes an adolescent; the day he forgives them, he becomes an adult; the day he forgives himself, he becomes a parent.” dont you think :-)

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  26. Thank you for your feedback all! I've been so swamped with my other blog on WordPress and life's many demands that this blog has been a tad ignored. I will start posting on it again. Meanwhile, A Happy New Year to everyone and thank you for your comments. Oh yea, I love the Alden Nowlan quote too! :-)
    Elizabeth

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  27. Hi i’m Heather! I have a question for you! Please email me :)
    HeatherVonSJ[at]gmail[dot]com

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  28. www.chefdoru.wordpress.comDecember 1, 2012 at 10:15 AM

    Pick-up your "Liebster Award" at http://chefdoru.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/what-a-week/

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  29. the years so fast. i remember, i was in college and now, it has been 8 years since i graduated.

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  30. Thank you for your comment Anne! Yes, time does fly when we are having fun as young people. :-)

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