A Time to Let Go

There’s a story about the defining moment when a father and son must let each other grow. The father took his 10-year-old son, a Boy Scout, to the boy’s first Boy Scout weekend camp-out.

The son wanted to earn Scouting’s highest rank, Eagle Scout, which was one step on his journey. Future actions would include service, community engagement, and leadership development.

The scout learned to set up his tent at camp, build a fire, and tie rope knots. The most permanent lessons about life came from his scout manual or scout leader and his interaction with his dad.

The camp-out was a two-night adventure, and the father dropped his son off on Friday and told him he would return on Saturday to see how things were going. He returned midday on Saturday and was surprised to see his son doing well. The son showed him the most enormous can of peanut butter the father had ever witnessed. Then, he showed him his campsite and introduced him to the troop leaders.

It was soon for the father to leave, and the son walked with him to the car. The father told him he would return to pick him up on Sunday afternoon. Suddenly, the boy started crying and asked his father to take him with him. “I want to go with you, Dad. Please take me home.”

“No, son, you must complete the camp, and I will pick you up on Sunday.” The son turned, still crying, and walked back toward the camp. The father also turned and strode to his car, thankful his son could not see him weeping. That day, the father learned a life lesson: he had to let go so the son could grow.

I am that father, and my son grew to become a father. Someday, he will have to let his daughter succeed.