儿子的独立之路

2023年11月，儿子Jack因大学实习需要用车，我便为他买了一辆二手车。11月22日那天，他第一次独自驾车，从我们位于北岛的卡蒂卡蒂启程，驶向南岛的基督城——他的大学所在之地。

行程第一段是从卡蒂卡蒂到惠灵顿，约五百五十公里，然后在惠灵顿住半晚，在半夜时间搭上横渡库克海峡的三小时半轮渡，然后再驾车三百四十公里，方能抵达基督城。

这是他第一次独自完成如此长途的旅程，还包括坐船。出发前，我叮嘱了许多细节，车辆也进行了全面的检查和保养。但即便如此，我心里仍是充满担忧。然而我也明白：孩子长大了，我必须放手，让他自己去面对前方的道路——无论那里会有困难，抑或风险，就象人第一次驾车的长途旅行。

心中是万般的不舍，万般的担忧。

我站在屋前，看着他的车缓缓地、缓缓地驶离我们家的车道。几秒钟后，他右转进入公路，毫不停留前去了。房屋挡住了我看他远去的视线。

我在原地站了许久，望着他离去的方向，心中既有一丝忧虑，也有一丝欣慰。

那一刻，我感到了，这正是他走向未来独立的坚定脚步！

为了抵达基督城，他需要两天一夜。我只希望他谨慎驾驶，平安顺利。

孩子终究要长大。终有一天，他们必须离开父母的屋檐，走向社会，在风雨中砺炼，在阳光下成长，在更广阔的天地里找到自己的合适人生。身为父母，我们不能因为担心未来的不确定性，就不敢放手。

自那次长途之旅之后，他又有数次自己驾车长途旅行，但我的担忧慢慢减少了。

转眼两年过去。现在，Jack大学毕业了，也顺利地找到了工作。在2026年二月正式上班前，他还将和他的一个朋友一起去日本旅行一趟。这既是他对自己大学生涯的奖赏，也是又一次的锻炼——而且旅费还是他自己上学期间打工赚的，是他对自己的馈赠。

JACK，干得好！祝贺你！希望你勇敢地坚定向前!

2025-12-06

The Road to Independence of My Son Jack

In November 2023, my son Jack needed a car for his university internship, so I bought him a second-hand one. On 22 November, he drove by himself for the first time, departing from our home in Katikati on the North Island and heading toward Christchurch on the South Island—the city where his university is located.

The first part of the journey was from Katikati to Wellington, about 550 kilometers. He stayed half night in Wellington, then took the three-and-a-half-hour ferry across the Cook Strait in midnight, and finally drove another 340 kilometers before reaching Christchurch.

It was his first time completing such a long journey on his own, one that even involved taking a ferry. Before he left, I reminded him of many details, and the car had been thoroughly inspected and serviced. Even so, I was still full of worry. Yet I also understood that he had grown up, and that I had to let go and allow him to face the road ahead by himself—whether it holds difficulties or risks, just like a long journey one drives first time in his life

My heart was filled with reluctance and anxiety.

I stood in front of the house, watching his car move slowly—very slowly—down our driveway. A few seconds later, he turned right onto the road and drove off without hesitation. The house blocked my view, and I could no longer see him as he continued farther away.

I remained there for quite a long time, looking in the direction he had gone, feeling both a trace of worry and a trace of comfort.

At that moment, I truly sensed that it was a firm step of his independent journey toward the future.

To reach Christchurch, he needed two days and one night. All I hoped for was that he would drive carefully and arrive safely.

Children must grow up. One day, they must leave their parents’ shelter and step into society—tempered by storms, nourished by sunshine, and finding their place in a wider world. As parents, we cannot refuse to let go simply because we fear the uncertainties ahead.

Since that first long journey, he has taken several long trips on his own, and my worries have gradually eased.

In the blink of an eye, two years have passed. Jack has now graduated from university and has already secured a job. Before starting work in February 2026, he will travel to Japan with one of his friends. It is both a reward he gives himself for completing his studies and another chance to train and challenge himself—and the travel expenses were earned by his own part-time work during his university years. It is a gift he gives to himself.

Jack, well done! Congratulations! May you move forward with courage and determination!

2025-12-06