I have to go away

Don't get your panties all up in a bunch...

I am not really going away.

Let me explain.

You already know I am a deep thinker.

Yesterday just the simple act of riding my bike

that was given to me by my babies

can get me deep-thinking about the Mothers Day

two years ago when they gave it to me.

I was thinking about how deep I mothered.

All up in there lives, making sure they never doubted

that I was watching, doing.

I was thinking about how odd it is to parent grown children

and the mistakes I have made in that challenge.

I was thinking about how now that I have learned some

rules about parenting my grown baby boy

I now also have to learn a new way to parent baby girl

now that she has ventured out into the world of adulthood.

I was thinking that really to mother grown children

you have to take a step back, let them learn on their own.

I have to not give advice unless it is asked and even

then the advice should only be what I would do

and I can't hold it against them if they decide to do things

differently than me. My job with guiding them my way

is done and I have to know that.

So all of this is going through my mind and heart as

I pedal the bike with the ipod buds in my ears.

then Cat Stevens speaks to me on my shuffle list

and he says it so eloquently.

In a sense of the word, I have to go away.

Not in body but in opinion.

My children are grown, my job of guiding them is over.

I have to take a step back, lead by example

and know that the things I have taught them are there.

They are loving and wonderful people.

I am proud of both of them but it is time for me

to take the back seat, button the lips and let them live.

So today I leave this message to all of us with grown children

and most importantly to my babies.

I know I make mistakes but thankfully you guys

have learned the art of forgiveness.

FATHER TO SON

CAT STEVENS

It's not time to make a change, just relax, take it easy

your still young, that's your fault

there's so much you have to know.

Find a girl, settle down, if you want to you can marry

look at me, I am old but I'm happy.

I was once like you are now & I know that's it not easy

to be calm, when you've found somethings going on.

But take your time, think a lot, think of everything you've got

For you will still be here tomorrow but your dreams may not.

How can I try to explain? When I do he turns away again

It's always been the same old story.

From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen

Now there's a way and I know I have to go away.

All the times that I cried, keeping all the things inside

It is hard, but it's harder to ignore it.

If they were right, I'd agree, but it's them to know, not me.

Now there's a way and I know I have to go away.

I know I have to go.