It has happened, I now have an adult daughter. Although Zoe has probably been an adult for about a decade already, now it is official, her ID even passed at the bottle shop yesterday. What a strange feeling, I can still see her as a cute baby and a cheeky toddler, and soon she will be leaving us and heading off into the big world to make her mark. The reality of all of that truly seems to be compounded by the fact that she is now an adult.
When your child turns 18 you know that you have absolutely no choice but to let go of that death grip that you have had over their lives for almost two decades; this is clearly easier said than done. You can no longer stand as dictator to any of the decision making, now you are merely an adviser that they can tell to fuck off whenever they feel like it. The choices that they make from this point on rest firmly on their shoulders and not yours, even though you will not feel those choices any less than you did before. And no matter how old they get, you will still see them as the naive fourteen year old that couldn't possibly manage without you, even though in truth they managed just fine then and will continue to in the future.
I think that this may be one of the most bitter-sweet things that I have encountered in my life, the mixture of emotions is quite challenging. This is the moment when you get to see if you've put in enough of the good stuff over the years to launch a well balance and capable adult into the world. It is like standing on the edge of a huge precipice with your child and you have to stand back and let them jump off and hope that you've given them what they need to soar.
Perhaps I am being too sentimental with my analogies now, because it is also a really wonderful time for Zoe, so lets just put my parenting concerns aside here.
Zoe is going for her license tomorrow and will claim some new found independence and freedom with that. She has a whole new lifetime of opportunities spreading out before her and I am incredibly proud of the fine young lady that she has become. And lets be honest about this, as soon as she turns around to take that leap over the precipice, I will be racing down to the bottom to catch her - just in case, because you never stop doing that for your precious darlings, no matter how old they get.
This one's for you Zoe, I know that it's your favourite movie. Happy 18th Beautiful x
When your child turns 18 you know that you have absolutely no choice but to let go of that death grip that you have had over their lives for almost two decades; this is clearly easier said than done. You can no longer stand as dictator to any of the decision making, now you are merely an adviser that they can tell to fuck off whenever they feel like it. The choices that they make from this point on rest firmly on their shoulders and not yours, even though you will not feel those choices any less than you did before. And no matter how old they get, you will still see them as the naive fourteen year old that couldn't possibly manage without you, even though in truth they managed just fine then and will continue to in the future.
I think that this may be one of the most bitter-sweet things that I have encountered in my life, the mixture of emotions is quite challenging. This is the moment when you get to see if you've put in enough of the good stuff over the years to launch a well balance and capable adult into the world. It is like standing on the edge of a huge precipice with your child and you have to stand back and let them jump off and hope that you've given them what they need to soar.
Perhaps I am being too sentimental with my analogies now, because it is also a really wonderful time for Zoe, so lets just put my parenting concerns aside here.
Zoe is going for her license tomorrow and will claim some new found independence and freedom with that. She has a whole new lifetime of opportunities spreading out before her and I am incredibly proud of the fine young lady that she has become. And lets be honest about this, as soon as she turns around to take that leap over the precipice, I will be racing down to the bottom to catch her - just in case, because you never stop doing that for your precious darlings, no matter how old they get.
This one's for you Zoe, I know that it's your favourite movie. Happy 18th Beautiful x
THE SHINING
Release Date: 1980
Rating: R 18+
Running Time: 144 mins
If you haven't seen or heard about this movie yet then you must have been on a deserted island for a very long time! Slammed by critics upon its release and put up for two Razzie awards, The Shining was clearly a psychological horror well ahead of its time. This Stephen King classic novel, directed by Stanley Kubrick is now widely regarded as a masterpiece of horror; utterly chilling, haunting and gripping in every sense.
Jack Nicholson plays Jack Torrance, a writer that is relocating his wife and son to The Overlook Hotel to care take and write a best seller, during the Winter shut-off period. Jack's son Danny is a psychic (he has the shining) and it causes him to see all manner of horrid things. Combine that with Jack's extreme cabin fever and you're in for some pretty strange happenings.
As the film progresses we witness the characters falling further and further into madness and despair. Suddenly this once beautiful hotel, takes on an ominous and terrifying presence of its own that appears determined to destroy the entire family.
Jack Nicholson is so unnerving as the demented father-gone-wrong, this is one husband that no woman would ever want! And Danny Lloyd delivers the ultimate creepy kid performance that will continue to unsettle viewers for years and years to come.
The Shining is without a doubt a cult classic that everyone should see, at least once.
FINAL SAY: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
4.5 Chili Peppers
Release Date: 1980
Rating: R 18+
Running Time: 144 mins
If you haven't seen or heard about this movie yet then you must have been on a deserted island for a very long time! Slammed by critics upon its release and put up for two Razzie awards, The Shining was clearly a psychological horror well ahead of its time. This Stephen King classic novel, directed by Stanley Kubrick is now widely regarded as a masterpiece of horror; utterly chilling, haunting and gripping in every sense.
Jack Nicholson plays Jack Torrance, a writer that is relocating his wife and son to The Overlook Hotel to care take and write a best seller, during the Winter shut-off period. Jack's son Danny is a psychic (he has the shining) and it causes him to see all manner of horrid things. Combine that with Jack's extreme cabin fever and you're in for some pretty strange happenings.
As the film progresses we witness the characters falling further and further into madness and despair. Suddenly this once beautiful hotel, takes on an ominous and terrifying presence of its own that appears determined to destroy the entire family.
Jack Nicholson is so unnerving as the demented father-gone-wrong, this is one husband that no woman would ever want! And Danny Lloyd delivers the ultimate creepy kid performance that will continue to unsettle viewers for years and years to come.
The Shining is without a doubt a cult classic that everyone should see, at least once.
FINAL SAY: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
4.5 Chili Peppers
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