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And just like that, my baby is 20. Twenty.<\/b><\/p>\n No longer a teenager. Now, any odd life choice is officially classified as “adulting.”\u00a0<\/p>\n It feels surreal to even say it out loud. Where did the years go?\u00a0If you\u2019re a parent, you know the feeling. That tug at your heart that whispers, “This is what we raised them for.” Yet, at the same time, there\u2019s that bittersweet ache because the little boy who used to need me for everything is now standing on his own two feet.<\/p>\n Ash recently experienced the adventure into adulthood first-hand – two whirlwind weeks in Bangkok, courtesy of his internship. His job? Helping his team set up a major event. His hours? Brutal. Midnight was an early night for him. Most days, he\u2019d stagger back to his hotel at 3am., only to return to the venue before 7am.<\/p>\n And while he was out there, pushing himself to the limit, we were back home, stuck in a loop of pride and panic. Every night, my wife stayed awake, clutching her phone, waiting for Ash\u2019s message to confirm he was safe. One night, it didn\u2019t come. We called and called, our worry snowballing with each unanswered ring. By 4 a.m., drained and helpless, we finally went to bed, consumed by dread.<\/p>\n Turns out, he had simply collapsed into bed, too exhausted to even text. Relief washed over us the next morning, but the fear still lingers. That\u2019s parenting, isn\u2019t it? The constant battle between letting go and holding on, between trusting their independence and wishing you could shield them from every stumble.<\/p>\n Watching your child take their first real steps into the world is like riding a rollercoaster blindfolded. You know there will be highs and lows, twists and turns, but nothing quite prepares you for the gut punch of worry mixed with the exhilaration of pride.<\/p>\n It\u2019s strange. We spend years preparing them to fly – teaching them to tie their shoelaces, solving Math problem sums, and building LEGO sets with them. But when they finally soar, part of us aches to hold them close just a little longer.\u00a0Because while I\u2019ve always known this day would come, I wasn\u2019t ready for how much it would hurt to realize he doesn\u2019t need me as much anymore.<\/p>\n I miss the days when his biggest problem was figuring out which game to play to maximise his iPad time or deciding what ice cream flavour to pick. Now, his challenges are much bigger. And I can\u2019t swoop in with a hug and a Milo Peng <\/i>to fix things anymore. That\u2019s the beauty and meh<\/i> part of growing up – for him and for me.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Still, Ash\u2019s sense of responsibility and work ethic hasn\u2019t wavered one bit – in fact, it\u2019s only grown stronger! His internship clearly left a lasting mark on him. Just the other day, he organized a JB day trip with his school friends on Excel! Can you believe it? I don\u2019t even get that detailed when planning our family vacations! \ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n Here we are then.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Twenty years in, and I\u2019m still learning how to be his parent. Because, let\u2019s be honest, that job doesn\u2019t end. It evolves. And while he may not need me to hold his hand, I hope he knows I\u2019ll always be here – waiting for his call, cheering him on, and, yes, still staying up late to make sure he gets home safe.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi3EKvFelr4sSxFUcQ7N4NDCv8E8kggFitNIee3NOhf2HozTr34-0J_mOqw0SEhJi7VXyS62LBGzsjcJb-mjhyhA33ShvpuSWRMFL1aUbedTrSjZ38GhFVH5XwUL9YSIAt630zEg2Z9QyDvV59Lbt8QwdiA7xi-OOs9mCcgDA4BR6sA4z9drcqtGw\/s800\/Ash1-002.jpg\")
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