Away from Home and On Her Own: What My Daughter’s Taught Me About Growing Up

I’m on my way to see my daughter play hockey. I’ve never seen her play before. In fact, I’ve never seen her skate before. When she left for college, she didn’t know how.

There were a lot of things Megan didn’t know when she left for college.

She didn’t know how to manage a budget or balance a checkbook, but she learned, because, being on her own, she had to become her own guardian.

She didn’t know what she wanted to study or what she wanted to do when she graduated, but she learned, because, being on her own, she had to ask her own questions, find her own answers, and decide her own future.

And, like I said, she didn’t know how to skate or play hockey, but she learned, because, being on her own, she had to discover what her own idea of fun was.

I miss her, but I’m glad she went away. I’m glad she’s on her own.

By being on her own, she’s come into her own, and that’s been a joy to witness.

But it does make me wonder. Have I left home? Have I ventured out far enough? Am I placing myself in situations that force me to learn and adapt and find my own way?

Sometimes, we think we’re all grown up, but I doubt we ever are. Seems to me, we’re never fully-grown. If we were, we’d have nowhere to grow, and what a terrible bore that would be.

But if we never venture out and we always stay home, if we cling to the tried and the what-we’ve-been-told-is-true, if we always keep our feet where things feel safe and warm, then we’ll probably never grow, even if we have great potential to do so. Megan reminds me of that.

It’s an awesome thing when your own children inspire you. Megan makes me want to pack my bags, head out, and discover who I really am. She makes me want to start growing up and never stop.

Thanks, Megan.

Are you getting all the Quiet Inspiration you need? Subscribe to Quiet Inspiration, the Mildly Creative Newsletter. You can also subscribe to these blog posts via RSS feed or by Email.