WHO'S ON THE WHEEL

The man has passed his driving test. Yes he's a man now, a young one. That's quite a big chunk of reality for me to swallow actually.
Well, these few months were spent trying to get him licensed, so to speak. It made me poorer by RM1150, yes that's what it costs nowadays (with one retest for both car and bike). Not fretting, just sharing, but it was money well spent and was my obligation too and the bright side is it made me richer by having an extra driver in the family. Now I can sleep on all those long trips and even the shorter ones. Sleeping is one of life's pleasures you should know, and if you lead a life like mine, you'd grab every chance you get to doze off.

When I called and the good news was relayed, was overcome by emotions and had to tell myself that it was just a driving test. No big deal for normal folks but for geeks like us who react weirdly to everything in life, it is some sort of achievement.
Got to think about his first few steps walking, his first time on a tricycle, then graduating to training wheels and later on to a two wheeler and advancing to the motorised version and of course his first driving lesson was on his 15th birthday in the old KE30.
It was me who drummed the first beats of music into him when he was still in his mother's belly. I was there to hear him speak his first few words one of which was "poochee" (insect in Malayalam). I tell you, mother and father were so proud that their son was speaking and saying something comprehensible until he pointed to everything around him and still said "poochee". Ah... enlightenment.. he's just imitating some sound that he heard his crazy dad saying,..... profound knowledge! That's language acquisition for you!
Watching him grow and trying to instill values that you believe in is not an easy task. You have society , religion, family, your better half and 'the times' as competition and you have to find a way to seep it into him, explaining some and just insisting on others. You succeed most of the time but also fail in some. You see, HORRORS! these children also have minds of their own! Further more they may not only take after you, but OH GOD also after your better half! These things are not easy to accept especially if you are a hard head yourself.
Well, as much as it was a teaching process , it was also a learning one too. Only thing is, you may not get too many chances to make mistakes. Some mistakes in life are too costly and irreparable.
Now, I'm just learning to accept that the time is near when he will soon widen his horizon and his playground will not be just around the corner anymore. Have to learn to live with the fact that the time is not far away from when he may not be with me for every dinner when I'm at home. I don't know if I can let go but I know I have to. I know that he is just raring to go out there and conquer the world. His choices may not be what I want them to be. I just hope that I have done a good job trying to guide him, Kipling's "IF" is so meaningful and I know he read it too. It's every father's wish.
I will always be here, mama too, Godwilling.
If you fall, I will fuss, just as I always did when you were not careful, and still help you up, but fly son, fly. Take the world, spread your wings, sing your songs, lead the world in a choir, but just remember, while you carve your name, you also carry mine. We will always be here to support you in every way, just like when we held your hands when you took your first few steps.