Letting go, two simple words that sound peaceful, almost poetic. But in real life, they can feel like standing on the edge of a cliff, trusting the wind will catch you.
These past months, I’ve been watching both of my daughters take their own leaps. One is across the ocean, studying at university and training as a top athlete. The other just moved into her first apartment to begin her university journey combining law and economics. Two different paths, one same truth: they are both learning to fly, and I’m learning to loosen my grip, making sure I am still there when they need my help.
When I see them stepping into their independence, I feel pride, joy, and, yes, a little ache. Parenthood is the most complex form of leadership I know so far. You give everything: your energy, your love, your sleepless nights, only to realize that your biggest success is when they no longer need you in the same way.
It reminds me of a question that could have been in my last book “Who are you when your role changes?”
Because when our children grow, we grow too. When they find their purpose, we’re invited to redefine ours. Letting go isn’t the same as losing, it’s trusting, it’s believing that what you’ve taught, modeled, and lived will echo in them as they write their own stories. It’s also an invitation to rediscover yourself, beyond the routines, the worry, and the noise. And that is not always so simple as it looks. It feels as once again a blank canvas is in front of you and you can decide again what to start and when.
So as I see their lives unfold, I remind myself that love isn’t about holding on tightly, but about holding space. Maybe letting go is not the end of something, but the beginning of everything for them, and for me and my husband as parents.
