Dear MOMs and DADs,
I’m a 22 year old girl like your daughter. I’ve nothing notably different from her, except probably the fact that my dad and mom let me choose my path, put no restriction on my dreams and helped me fly. I still remember the pride on their faces when I took off on my onward journey.

What I’d like to tell you is, please MOMs and DADs, help your daughters fly. Feel the pride. See her off with the warmest hugs and deepest love. When she takes off, all that remains with her is your love, the values you inculcated in her and the reputation she inherited from you. Trust her; she won’t let you down. Support her; she won’t tread the wayward path. Let her see the world, learn from it; learn to live in it and live with it.

I know you are afraid for her safety and her well being. But dears, have you ever thought of the day you might not be there for her? (God forbid!) Yes, you might say “We’ll marry her off; we’ll save for her rainy days”. What if all that does not work? What if she is stranded thus? She is educated but not equipped to face the world? Therefore give her freedom, DADs and MOMs. Teach her to walk alone, live alone and be worldly wise. Trust me; she’s as capable as your son is, to navigate alone. She can stay in a far away land and study and bring glory to you as you expect your son to do. Please don’t deny her that opportunity. Please don’t clip her wings before she unfurls them and discovers the joy of flight. After all, she’s your princess!