I’ve just found out that college son is coming home next weekend. I love that I’ll see him for Valentine’s Day. I know it’s a day marketed to sweethearts, but nothing fills my heart like having both of my children together. To know that kites return to the source.
Quote for the Day:
I see children as kites. You spend a lifetime trying to get them off the ground. You run with them until you’re both breathless…they crash… you add a longer tail… they hit the rooftop… you pluck them out of the spout… you patch and comfort, adjust and teach. You watch them lifted by the wind and assure them that someday they’ll fly.
Finally, they are airborne, but they need more string and you keep letting it out and with each twist of the ball of twine, there is a sadness that goes with the joy because the kite becomes more distant and somehow you know that it won’t be long before that beautiful creature will snap the lifeline that bound you together and soar as it was meant to soar… free and alone.
Only then do you know that you did your job.
—–Erma Bombeck (February 21, 1927 – April 22, 1996) Erma Bombeck was a gem of a writer. I’ve had this piece for so long that I don’t recall where I got it. I’ve read this numerous times as my teenager tested limits and sprouted wings.
I really love Erma but I didn’t know the quote. Love it. Great metaphor.
Do you know the Kahlil Gibran bit (from memory) “…your children are not your children; they are the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself. You must send them forth as living arrows…”
Arrows, kites…and beloved offspring.
I do know the Kahlil Gibran, but not from memory. I passed it around several months ago and have since misplaced it. Arggh! It is wonderful indeed.
I am curious how you found my blog all the way from Australia?
Isn’t the internet amazing? I’m a writer, too, and my passion and crusade is children’s literature and literacy, so I have a Google alert out for both. Yesterday, your kite post was in the alert and I thought it sounded interesting, so i linked.
Glad I did!
You might be interested to know that an Adelaide artist used the ‘Children are like kites’ poem to illustrate an actual kite with calligraphy – but the author was unknown to her!
Now that I have bumped into the actual author’s name, I will update my web-page accordingly.
Our little boy has just turned 3, but I guess he will be getting more kite-like for a long while yet 🙂
PS I’m another Australian, with a Google Alert out for ‘kites’!
How fantastic to hear from Australia. A big Howdy from Texas!Wow!
Don’t you just love it when a mystery is solved? I’m so glad my random post helped uncover the author.
Thanks for sharing the photo of calligraphy kite. I’d love a copy for myself.
Soak in every moment of your son’s childhood. They grow up while we’re busy being busy.