The 128 most classic philosophical essays in the world

Chapter 106 On Children

[Lebanon] Gibran
You are the bow from which your children are living arrows.

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters that "life" desires for itself.

They come through you, but not from you.

Although they live with you, they do not belong to you.

You can give your love to your children, but you cannot give your thoughts to them.

For your child has a mind of his own.

You may house their bodies, but not their souls.

For their souls dwell in the houses of tomorrow, which you cannot see even in your dreams.

You may try to be like them, but not to make them like you.

For life is not backwards, nor stuck with yesterday.

You are the bow from which your children are living arrows.

The sharp archer selects the target in the "infinite" way, and draws the bow to the full with divine power, so that his arrow can be shot far away quickly.

Let you be bent and filled with joy in the hands of the sharpshooter.

God loves the fixed bow as much as the flying arrow.

Heart mark notes
Family affection is like a protective umbrella, which can not only protect children from wind and rain, but also prevent them from being exposed to sunlight and rain.Therefore, when necessary, parents must learn to let go and give their children a sky to fly freely.

To love children, we must let them learn to walk independently; to respect children, we must give them the space to show their own thoughts.Whatever the child can do by himself, he should be allowed to do; whatever the child can think of, he should be allowed to think for himself.The child belongs only to himself, and the child has what he should do.

Give the child space to move forward on his own.

Give the child the conditions to let him exercise by himself.

Give your child difficulties and let him overcome them by himself.

Give your child conflict and let him resolve it on his own.

Give the child the right to make his own choices.

Give your child questions and let him create them himself.

Because there is a kind of love called letting go.

(End of this chapter)