Self-reliance is the most basic and fundamental of human qualities. We might live in an interconnected world but there are some things in life that we have to be able to manage by ourselves. Nevertheless, teaching independence is never about throwing a rope down a second-storey window and expecting a five-year old child to be able to climb down by himself. It is about slowly letting go bit by bit until the child is confident enough to descend the rope.

But like a timid child who clings onto to his parents when he’s afraid, many a time, we struggle to let go of their supporting hands. Similarly, we’re perpetually caught in the same predicament. As we prepare to move on to the next phase of life, the past keeps returning to haunt us. While we had release our hold and tried to go forward, the hands of the past tirelessly hung on.

Had we had failed in our teachings or did the environment not encourage the right kind of mentality? While we laboured to establish a conducive learning environment to promote independence, protectionist measures ensured that we were destined for failure. Babysitting is not a lifelong job. Some day, they need to grow up and stand on their own two feet. Perhaps, it’s time to burst that protective bubble. Life’s not always a box of chocolates.