"The story's main character pictures herself in a theatre and explains that when your child is very young, you are in the prompter's box, located in the orchestra pit, directing the play. Then you move to the first few rows of seats and become a prominent member of the audience. Eventually, you end up on the balcony, where you can observe the play but are less involved in the actual production."
"As each one headed out the door to college, I cried buckets of tears and wondered what this next chapter would look like for all of us. They called often during those first few weeks on their own. They asked things like "How do I make boxed mac and cheese?" or "How do I kill the cockroaches in my shower?" and "What should I take for a cold?""
"I spoke with my oldest almost every day. After an unproductive semester in college, he moved across the country. He gave me three days' notice before departing, but I didn't try to stop him. I'd done the same thing when I was 19, and honestly, it was the best decision both he and I ever made. As he began exploring life as a newly formed adult, he still yearned for a tether to me, his mom."
I moved to California to stay near my grown children as they dated and married. After raising five children and prioritizing their needs, I now observe their lives from a more distant place. A novel's metaphor framed parenting as moving from the prompter's box to the balcony, which matches my experience. I cried when each left for college and stayed connected through frequent calls asking basic living questions. One child moved across the country after a difficult semester, prompting reflections on independence and choices. I miss the chaotic household and yearn to remain relevant while watching them become the people they are.
Read at Business Insider
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