This New Year, 2025, is now just over 2 weeks old. What has changed since last year? Nothing really. Does it feel better? So far, it is a case of same old, same old.
I am out on what I am starting to call “The Last Road Trip With Dad” being that my daughter is fast approaching 19 and my son is halfway to 17. I am now asking myself Ïs this the beginning of the end, or the end of the beginning?
In some ways, when I separated from their Mum nearly seven years ago, it felt – for me at least – like the beginning of the end and I anxiously foresaw a future where I had no real relationship with my kids. They have shown such great resilience to endure the constant to-ing and fro-ing between their 2 homes, and I can’t help but admire and be inspired by them for that. It is a true source of happiness to know that they have come through what I think would be the toughest experience for a child (they were 11 and 9 at the time), and despite everything I am very happy to know that I have my own unique and truly special relationship with them. I am a completely, utterly and thoroughly different person to their Mum, and hopefully I give them experiences, knowledge and wisdom to guide them into the future.
My daughter has impressed with her maturity. She has been accepted into university this year but is deferring to take a ‘gap’year and is soon going to head offshore and experience some new adventures, meet new people and put her own stamp on the world. I could not be more proud of her!
My son has reached that REALLY awkward stage where he does not seem to value himself and I know that he is struggling with his self-esteem and confidence – he gets that from his Dad! **sigh** He knows that he can come and talk to me about anything, but like many young me of that age, he maintains that all is okay when I know that he is struggling so much with his identity and how/where her fits into the scheme of things, especially when it comes to approaching and being confident around girls. It is hard to see him choose to spend so much time by himself – like his Dad! – but I know that he will, one day, grow out of that and will choose to unburden himself and allow me to guide him onto the path where he can feel truly comfortable with who he is and how he is. I just hope he finds the tools for that sooner than I did.
So is this really The Last Road Trip With Dad? Probably. You know what though? I am truly and utterly okay with that because I know that they are forging their own consciousness and looking into a future that they want and will strive wholeheartedly for and totally enjoy. Despite all that we have gone through, their lived experience will hold them in good stead for when they have to make their own life choices.
I am a very proud Dad!!
Health-your-self.com 