Why to “Letting GO”?

How to begin “Letting GO”?
It is ideal to think about why you do not want to leave your child alone at any time; to start with. Sorting out those mixed feelings preventing you from letting go is the first step toward understanding and conquering one of the most painful parts of parenting. It requires looking within.
Reasons for not “Letting GO”

· A frequent need to “reconnect” or check on the child’s welfare at nursery or school
· Being unable to socialize for long periods of time without children
· Relationship conflicts arising from decreased intimacy and quality time spent between parents
· Delayed weaning of children from breastfeeding, blabbering and sleeping in your bed to their own bed
· Conflicts about obligations to career choices/commitments to shift work, especially where basic childcare or breastfeeding is interrupted.
Effects of “Letting GO”
The conflicts discussed here are experienced by many parents, especially mothers. In these instances, primarily occurring during the child’s early development, feelings of guilt, conflicts between loyalties, and the internal struggles to make sacrifices can overwhelm a parent. The truth is, for a parent, there is no other love that compares to the love a mother or father has for a child and the responsibility that comes with caring for and protecting that child. Thus, a parent is operating out of pure love, reciprocated by the child, which creates the intense, unexpected love bond that is hard to break. It’s no wonder parents have a tough time letting go and allowing the child to become independent.
Tips to tackle the move to “Letting GO”

· Set boundaries for yourself; practice giving your child space to grow
· Give your child a chance to master tasks alone and learn from mistakes
· Trust that the values you’ve instilled will in turn form their decisions
· Acknowledge that you’ve done your best as a parent and that the hands-on phase of parenting does come to an end
· As your child matures, rebuild a new relationship that is less about dependency and more about mutual respect, admiration
The whole process of Letting GO your tiny tots is like
letting them enter a deep, dark forest with birds and beasts
without you but in front of you
Something like the feelings echoed by a parent in this poem:
I make my plans for you from birth;
Carefully carving out your worth
So wrapped up in who you’ll be;
I neglect your individuality
I want to protect you all your life;
Keep you safe from danger and strife
Temptation and pressure attack you all day;
How as a parent can I keep it away?
My goal in life is to see you succeed;
What’s the best way to plant that seed?
Will my guidance be enough?
To guard and keep you from all that stuff?
I’ll trust you with each step you take
I’ll give you the space to set your tone;
Adjust my expectations as you create your own.