Every year Martín's parents

take him by train to their grandmother

to spend the summer holidays,

and then they go back home

on the same train the next day.

One day the little boy tells his parents:

"I'm already big.

Can I go to grandma's house by myself?".

After a short conversation,

his parents agree.

They wait for the train to leave,

they say bye-bye to their son by giving him

some advice from the window,

while Martín repeats:

"I know! You've told me more than a thousand times".

When the train is about to leave

his dad whispers in his ears:

"Buddy, if you feel lonely or insecure,

This is for you!".

And he puts a piece of paper in his pocket.

Now Martin is alone,

sitting on the train just like he wanted,

without his parents for the first time.

He looks at the landscape from the window,

strangers crowd around him,

they make a lot of noise,

enter and exit the wagon.

The controller makes some comments

about the fact that Martín is alone.

A person looks at him with inquisitive eyes.

Martín feels more alone

every minute that passes.

Now he is afraid.

He lowers his head…

he feels alone and insecure,

he has tears in his eyes.

Then he remembers that his father

put something in his pocket.

With a trembling hand, he looks for it.

He finds the piece of paper and reads it.

It says:

"Martín, I'm in the last car!".

This is life,

we must let our children go,

we must trust them.

But we can always be

in the last car, observing them,

in case they are afraid or

find obstacles and don't know what to do.

I translated (and adapted) this story from Spanish, the author is unfortunately unknown, but if you know him, please write it in the comments because I would like to give him credit.

I find this story sweet and accurate. It feels exactly like the parenting I want to offer my children.