The Okie Legacy

From Seed To Self-Discovery
(Journey of A Thousand Miles)

How do I feel as a mother (and a parent) about letting go and giving my children the freedom to mature while they venture off on their own pioneer adventures to discover themselves from within?

It's a mixture of feelings that fill this heart and soul. It isn't easy letting go as they venture off to kindergarten and first grade -- As they graduate High School and enter College -- As they graduate college and enter the work force with countless others.

Each is a new level of experiences and adventures that accumulate and shape their journey of a thousand miles of self-discovery to seek the center of the person within.

Just like each adventure to new territories that our ancestors discovered, our children have become the new age pioneer powered by telecommunications and technical breakthroughs -- Leading us into the new millennium with their hopes and dreams.

Where does the time go? Was it only yesterday plus a few years that they walked across the stage to receive their diploma from the University Dean of Students?

This feeling of adventure must be what our ancestors must have felt as they uprooted themselves and headed west in their caravans of covered wagons drawn by oxens for the new territories and opportunities opening up and waiting for them -- And NOT knowing what they would find.

Smiling and thinking back to pony express and telegraph (before my time, of course!), I can only imagine what my ancestors life was like before the telecommunication age of the internet.

We've come along way, baby, since then. Where with a click of a mouse you can research -- Find housing in Washington DC from your desktop in Oklahoma -- Connect with cousins around the world! Amazing! Simply Amazing!

I was remembering back to the Winter of '69 when our first child was just a seed in our minds. We turn around almost 29 years later and he is off to the Nations Capitol in District of Columbia to begin his new job with the Corporation for National Service.

As a mother I will always worry just like every mother out there worries for her child's safety. I will want to protect him as long as he will let me. BUT...There comes a time when the cord needs to be cut and time to let go to give him the space he needs to grow and mature into a responsible adult.

I know in my heart he will be safe. It was only yesterday it seems that I jokingly told him, "Watch out for the hot air, politicians and republicans around the Washington DC area."

Now I have nothing against politicians and republicans. Some of my best friends are republicans. I was just using that to lighten up the moment and find something to laugh at.

They say that "Laughter is the best medicine!" You should find something that makes you smile and laugh everyday. But that is another topic for later discussion.

This is about his time to discover himself within and make his mark in the world. It is a great time! He can do this! I can do this! I can let go! Because I send my unconditional love, support, friends and guardian angels to watch over his soul.

There comes a time when we need to accept the feelings within and let our child discover and be responsible for their own experiences, actions and adventures. Let them find their own pioneer spirit and journey of thousands of miles as they discover their fourth instinct of who they are within.

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