I was wondering how to start this week’s post, and in my wondering I started thinking about the quote behind it:
“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth”
I don’t really think I’d given it that much thought before, but it actually fits really nicely with the way I think about being a parent.
My mum has always told me that your children are only lent to you. They’re not yours to keep forever, it’s your job as a parent to, ultimately, let them go.
It’s bittersweet, and sometimes I want to reject that idea completely and hold on as tight as I can to my children. But I know she’s right. And I’m reminded that I’m doing my job as a parent pretty well in this respect when I see how happily my children go out into the world these days.
My in-laws picked them up from school on Friday, and had them for a sleepover that night. On the Friday afternoon Nerys and her Nana stopped by our house to pick up their overnight things, and rather than come in and see me Nerys decided she would rather wait in the car, seeing as it was raining out.
She waved to me and blew me kisses from the car, and was perfectly content with that. And I just thought, how wonderful is that. That she’s so happy with her grandparents. I always feel that it’s a sign of my children having a secure attachment to me and their dad when they’re happy to be away from us.
Still, it was lovely when they came home the next day, full of hugs and stories.
Your children really are just lent to you.
So I will soak up all the moments and memories I can while they’re still here and still mine. I will record these days of fairy wings and plaits and cheesy smiles. And I will trust that when the time comes and they really do step out into the world on their own they’ll do so with confidence, secure in the knowledge that they are loved unconditionally.
It’s so lovely when your children have wonderful Grandparents isn’t it!
My mum says the same thing. Beautiful photos. #livingarrows x
Thank you! And I love that your mum says the same thing as mine about this. x
Lovely words, Madeline. We may have let you go but we will never lose you. Too much love for that!
Oh there’s no chance that you’ll ever lose me! x
These are gorgeous and beautiful words x
Thank you! x
You know, I don’t often think about that quote either – but it’s so true. We need to just enjoy them whilst we can x
It’s funny, I type the quote out every week but never gave it that much though before! x
I’ve never really thought of parenting like that but it’s sooo true. We must make the most of our time together. These are beautiful photos xx #Livingarrows
Thank you, I do really love these photos! And we really do need to make the most of these years when our children are little and still all ours! x
Aww, this is a lovely post – and these pictures of Nerys are just adorable! #LivingArrows
Thank you, she was looking so sweet in her little fairy wings! x