Raising a Kite

“Raising a child is like building a kite. You must bend the twigs enough, but not too much, for you might break them. You must find paper that is delicate and light enough to wave on the breath of the wind, yet must withstand the ravages of a storm. You must tie the strings gently but firmly so that it may not fall apart. You must let the string go eventually so that the kite will stretch its ambition. It is such delicate work, Lord, being a mother."

Helena Viramonte’s Cariboo Café is a complex story that I found hard to grasp at first. While the story’s end did it’s best to connect all characters outlined within the story, the way each story was told in each separate section was challenging to understand, to say the least. I could relate with the relationship between Sonya and Macky. I too am protective of my younger brother, regardless of the circumstances that come. But even so, I both thoroughly enjoyed and found poetry in the excerpt provided above.

I, myself, have yet to experience motherhood, but based on what I’ve learned thus far (through others, of course) I believe the concept is eloquently explained in this quote. If raising a child is like building a kite, much effort and careful considerations even calculations must be applied just to properly construct/develop a device that symbolizes both freedom and innocence. The twigs in this case are simply rules. You must bend them to establish your own parenting and your unique relationship with your child, but you must be careful not to break them, for in so doing, the child would have no structure. Structure is needed for the kite to fly. Structure is needed for a child to soar as an adult.

 Then, you must find paper, or a balance between being both delicate and firm—delicate enough so your child feels free enough to enjoy the life you’ve built for him/her, but stern enough so the storms or life’s unprecedented challenges won’t break the child. How do you create that balance? By tying the strings gently but firmly or by handling your child both carefully and firmly at the same time, you’re essentially binding up any chances of complete failure. The love won’t allow him to fall apart when strong winds are against him, and the firmness will allow him/her to overcome.

And then eventually, when developing the kite/child is all said and done, you must let go and allow your child to pursue his/her own goals, all the while being confident that the structure you laid out and the love and stern teachings you’ve taught throughout the years was just enough for your child to make it.

Motherhood and the responsibility that treads along with the title is very delicate work.

And yet… where would we be without them?