Let him go! (sm)
Posted By: AnnieM!AnnieM! on 2007-08-30
In Reply to: Need some advice whether you are a parent or not - trose
I have a son a few years older than yours. While I certainly understand your concerns and they sure are valid ones, I say let him go. You said you are keeping a tighter grip on him these days, but that only is for your peace of mind and to appease your fears, not his. He's a young man now and it's time to let go a little.
You said your son was at VA Tech the day of the shootings, but you didn't say how he handled it all. I assume he's come to grips with it as he expresses interest in going to Africa and is not cowering in his room. I think of all the good things he will keep with him forever from that trip, most importantly, not being afraid. Fear and cautiousness are two different things. I would want my son to have that spirit of adventure, to want to try new things, go to new places, gain some independence and your son in particular is not going for selfish reasons, this is not spring break on a beach in Florida, which I would NEVER let my son go to as long as I was still paying the bills! Your son would be going for humanitarian reasons. As long as his step-uncle is with him 24/7 and this destination in Africa is one where Americans are welcome, I would not hold him back. If he's going to Darfur, that's another story!
I would be more concerned about the multiple vaccines he'd be required to get!
A life worth living is about adventure and risk and not being "stuck in a box" as my elderly neighbor told me when giving advice about my son trying new things. I'm with her!
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
|
