To My Child

Ellen Cantarow once said, "Making the decision to have a child-it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." And, boy, is it ever. You know if your phone or wallet were to grow legs and begin walking around, you'd want to keep that precious thing very close to you. But as your baby grows, and ventures further and further away, your heartstrings pull harder-it's painful and scary, those moments, as your child grows up and ventures out into the world.

           As a mother, it starts at birth, the very moment they leave your womb. The doctor takes your baby away, to check for breathing, clear the airway, cut the cord. Sometimes, my babies were taken across the room to be cared for. Some babies are in trouble, needing surgery or extra care. Then, grandma, grandpa, aunts, and uncles want to hold little precious. Please don't leave the room with my baby, especially if it's a firstborn!

           It continues. First day of daycare. First day of pre-school, kindergarten. The first sleepover. Those moments when your precious heart gets out of sight. Then, high school comes, and you're lucky if they still speak to you. Hugs are less frequent. They're driving now. That's a tough one. Girlfriends, boyfriends, high school dances. Their first job. When was the last time you saw them?

           Then... High school graduation. College, maybe. The day comes when it's time to move out. The final moment when your precious heart is leaving for the long-term. This moment, which all the little moments and stretches of time have been preparing you for, getting longer and harder in between, is finally here.

           When you cannot be there every day to remind them to be good, be safe, take care of themselves and how much you love them, don't worry-they know. But this book is a great way to remind them. Your heart is now out there, every single day. As a parent, it can be difficult. This book is one way to help cope with that, easing the transition, for both parents and their adult children.