(photo taken in 2001)

It took him 4 hours to get home, I picked him up from bus stop and took him to have dinner, poor kid didn't get to eat after 12 noon until 9:30

He is a quiet boy but always very talkative when I pick him up from bus stop, he talked and talked and talked, about his school meal plan, VERY EXPENSIVE, how to use it more efficiently, he is planning to rent a apartment with other boys next year and etc...

He then mentioned his daily meals, they have a Chinese takeout nearby, "you can get food even at midnight!"  many students go at that time, the food is ok and most importantly, the price is very low!

"Know what? I bought Subway foot long sandwich for $5.00, take 1/2 for lunch and 1/2 for dinner, it costs only $2.5 per meal!" He talked with proud and amazed face expression

I couldn't help but smiled

"Why you laugh?"

"Didn't I do that in summer for you guys to have Subway for 2 meals?"

"Yeah... but it was not ME to buy it!"

Well, that is the point now, people have to face it, deal with it, learn from it and own it by himself for each experience

I am very happy about his change

I remembered him asking me before he goes back to school after summer, "do you know how to do anything?

"What do you mean anything? What kind of things you are talking about? Housework? Cooking? Studying? Relationship? Etiquette? Career? "

“Everything!”

So I tried to find books from my bookshelf for him, found one something like “How to live your best life” from Oprah magazine and a book to teach Dad how to do everything at home

I even went to Borders and Barnes and Noble to find book like that for him, got him another one with drawings

It ends up these books are what he needs but he also needs more, he likes to know how to handle the small problems in daily life, for example, what if he missed the long distance bus or get lost in a strange place and near nowhere and no cell phone signals …. I guess he needs “street smart”, so I suggested him few things he can do in that situation and he probably can figure out more

I am glad he starts thinking and trying to prepare for his independent life, I hope I will not be overprotecting him but leave him rooms to grow, I will step aside to watch and just  be ready to support if he needs but will not always tell him how to do or solve everything, I also need to remind myself it is his life, no judgments from me is needed…

Self examination and independent thinking are very important, it is ok to make mistake but need to learn from it,actually it maybe be one of the best ways to learn through this process – make mistake - think -  improve - we all need to seek how to avoid to make the same mistake again and make things better

It is a great joy to see child grows, I was happy to see they grew bigger and taller when they were very young, then it was comforting to see they have friends, study Bible and do good in school, now I am looking forward to see they get mature, in daily life and spiritual life...

Many thanks God to give me these 2 kids, my life is more fulfilled and I get to know God’s love and mercy more as a parent!