Watching our Children Grow

I guess there are many mileposts along the road of parenthood; holding your child for the first time as they draw their first little delicate breaths, hearing them say their first words, watching as they cautiously take their first steps and ride their first bike, waving goodbye each day as they embark into middle school and then high school, and ultimately college. There are I hope many mileposts to go as yet including jobs, perhaps marriage and perhaps the miracle of grandchildren.

I recently came upon one of these significant mileposts with my son; the acquisition of his first car. Oh I suppose in the grand scheme of things, it is but a minor detour in the road of life but as shared experiences go between father and son, it is one that affects fathers significantly - perhaps more than mothers.

This weekend I assisted my son with... car shopping. He had done his homework and rather than going for the hottest looking sports car with the largest horsepower rating, he had chosen from a collection of sensibly priced and economically performing automobiles that were likely to protect him in the hopefully unlikely event of an accident. I was proud of him for his frugality and his intelligence in realizing a car is a great thing but there are other things in life worth pursuing that will require future monetary investment and so a car purchase, while important, is to be handled prudently and wisely. He had narrowed the search to a couple of models and a few test drives here and there soon rendered the decision an easy one for him. Once he had chosen the object of his motoring desires, it was off to a dealership that claimed via the internet, to have one just like he wanted. To our surprise, the vehicle was reaonsably priced, very attractive and just as described in the internet information. So, we proceeded over the next two days to purchase his future "wheels".

Yesterday, he and I traveled back to the dealership to conclude the arrangements and drive his "baby" home. It is a pretty blue car with metal flake paint and many nice features. It has sufficient power to keep him out of trouble without the excess horsepower that would likely get him in it. I won't describe it in any real detail here because he is enjoying showing it off in his blog. So, if you wish to see it, go take a look at his blog.

Today he drove ME to work! What a turn about. Instead of my driving him with me to work, he now took command of not only the controls but the entire vehicle because it is HIS vehicle! Wow.

When I look at his vehicle I realize how he must feel because I remember how proud and how enamored I was with my first vehicle; a Chevy II (Nova) with a 230 cubic inch inline six cylinder engine. I could well imagine my father having similar thoughts about my first car - that it was enough vehicle to protect me without tempting me to excesses in terms of acceleration.

I guess I view my son's car with mixed emotions. Of course I am happy for him to have such a fine vehicle and the means to afford it. I am happy that it provides him with a sense of independence and self direction and yet it is probably those same things that affect me personally the most.

Yes, his car is a symbol of his coming of age. It is a reminder to "Dad" that his "little boy" is growing up and sprouting wings and here is a sure sign of it. Oh yes, I know, my "little boy" hasn't been little for some 8 years but I guess you never stop feeling that way about your children as a parent. As he grows more assertive in terms of what he wants out of life, becomes more mobile, more capable, and certainly more self directed, it is a time for me to pass the steering wheel to him in more than the automotive sense. I do so reluctantly out of love knowing that for him to fly, he must test the air. I can warn him of the turbulent zones, the things in life that are downdrafts and the joy of the updrafts but it is ultimately he alone who will control the course of his flight.

So, as I ponder these new thoughts brought about by the simple purchase of an automobile - something I have personally done a dozen times or more (but without these kinds of feelings), I consider the fact that I am proud of my son and I am happy for him as he grows into adulthood. He is a fine man and a very intelligent and capable individual.

Our children grow up, sure - that's just part of the physical side of our lives. We all grow older if we are blessed with good health and avoid the accidents of life. However, I think, for parents, our children no matter how capable, no matter how adult in behavior or responsibility, are always our children in our hearts. I don't suppose we can help but feel that way.

So, I am thankful to God for my son and for my daughters. I am thankful that my son and I have lived to see this day and I pray everytime he heads out on another journey in his new "love" that his trip will be a safe one and watched over by our Father in Heaven.

May God continue to watch over you too.....

Take care my loved ones.....

Jerry