The Art of Letting Kids Grow

I used to think parenting was about control.

That it was my job to shape my child. We're led to believe it's our job to mould them like clay, and if they don't turn out as expected, it's on us.

Then we get haunted by questions like: did we choose the wrong methods of raising our kids? Were we firm enough, or perhaps too lenient?

But through my journey and reflections, I've come to see this perspective as not just unhelpful, but misleading.

Parenting, I've realized, is far from the task of shaping clay. Children aren't blank slates. They are, instead, like seeds – each carrying a unique potential within.

Art by Charbak Dipta

This beautiful thought is echoed in the Quran:

Our Lord is He Who gave to each (created) thing its form and nature, and further, gave (it) guidance. (Quran 20:50)

Emphasizing that every creation is given its form, nature, and guidance by the Divine.

The lesson here is profound yet simple.

Our task is to understand and nurture our children's innate potential. To provide an environment that supports their natural growth, not one that reshapes them to fit our expectations.

In this journey of parenting, we must remember – our children are not solely ours. They are also children of a greater plan, a Divine orchestration.

By bringing them into the world, we're not just raising individuals; we're participating in a larger purpose. It's an opportunity for our own growth, to learn the art of letting go, and to play a role in the grand scheme of nurturing the next generation.

In embracing this mindset, we open ourselves to the joy of witnessing the unique blossoming of each child.