A very close friend, actually more like a son who is brought up with my children, and I always considered him my third son.  He joined us on ski vacations, going to the beach and truly he was close to me as my children.  Philippe is his name.  

After many years of separation and him growing up and doing his maturity part, I met him in Paris in his restaurant (www.anthracite-paris.com) that is very nice, in the in-part of Paris. Right behind the centre Pompidou.

A grown up man, self confident, handsome and made me a very proud person even though I had a small part in his up-bringing.  I was so happy to see him that I hugged him and he turned red probably he forgot our Egyptian habits when we see our children after a long time.

All memories of his and my children’s childhood ran through my mind, remembering how naughty and difficult they were and how they are turning into fantastic people with the whole future ahead of them.

It is true that it stunned me when I saw Philippe, but I was also stunned when I saw my son two weeks ago and how matured he became.  My mother words came back to me when she always says all the caprice and difficulties will pass, it is part of growing up, and will remain only the children that you really brought up.

It makes my heart happy and sad to see my children growing up so fast, and I miss the time when I was in control if ever.  Yet I am so happy they are going their own ways and doing their own things.  It reminds me of a quote that I kept reading many times to be able to cede control and let them go from the book “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran saying:

“Your children are not your children,

they are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.

They come through you, but not from you,

and although they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,

for they have their own thoughts. 

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you can not visit, not even in your dreams.”

Actually, this is the only book I gave to my son on one of his birthdays and wrote that it was the best book I ever read and ever affected me.

I love you all my children and happy for the choices you make in your lives if they make you happy. And thank you Philippe, Roger - Pierre and Olivier  for bringing all these memories back to me so vividly.

I love you all and wish you the best in life and when you get your own children think of the prophet every step of the way.