The worst curse

x

Eagles build their nests high

on rocky cliffs or in tall trees. 

This makes it hard for them

to teach their chicks to fly. 

So the eagle pushes the baby

out of the nest, and as it flaps

and squawks and falls to earth,

the adult catches it and kind

of swats it back up in the air

so it can try again to fly on

its own. 

Up and down, being caught

and letting go, the young

eagles eventually learn

to fly….

So it is with you and

your children. 

You must teach them

the right way to live, but

you must also let them

fly by themselves, and

learn from the bumpy

ride how to deal with

the scary freedoms

of life. 

When they’re fully

“fledged,” you must

say with sadness —

and hopefully also

with pride — that

they’re living on

their own, beyond

your control or

command. 

~ Marc Gellman and Tom Hartman, “The God Squad,” Newsday 1/17/04.