When it comes to rearing children
giving birth is the easy bit.
It’s only when the midwife
places this wonderful, wondering baby
into our arms
that the hard work of parenthood
begins in earnest.

Parenthood is the most rewarding job we’ll ever do,
the most challenging job
and the job for which we feel
least prepared.

We cherish and take care of our babies –
enduring countless sleepless nights,
trips to our GP
and long waits in casualty.
We bathe cut knees when our toddlers fall
and we kiss them better.

We play with our children,
relishing this perfect excuse
to immerse ourselves
in their awesome world.

We introduce our children
to the wonders of God
and we accompany them
on their spiritual journey
through the sacraments.

We educate our teenagers.
We teach them to respect themselves
and others.

Then one day we discover
that our children
have now become young adults.
We slowly realise
that we must extend to our children
the same freedom
that our God extends to each of us –
the freedom to make their own decisions
and their own mistakes.

Of all of the challenges of parenthood,
perhaps the greatest challenge of all
is the challenge of letting go
of our children.

© Claire Murray, 26 June 2015